Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma

Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

Jessica Fujita

Southeastern Institute

Mrs. Malmsten

Author Note

Jessica Fujita, Medical Assisting, Southeastern Institute of Nashville TN.

Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Jessica Fujita, Medical Assisting, Southeastern Institute, Nashville Campus, Nashville TN, [phone].
E-mail: [e-mail]

Abstract
Lymphoma makes up 5% of all cancer cases in the country, with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (NHL) being the 6th most common. NHL is a cancer that starts in cells called lymphocytes, which are apart of the body’s immune system. Lymphocytes are in the lymph nodes and other lymphoid tissues, such as the spleen and bone marrow. There are two types of lymphomas: Hodgkin’s lymphoma is named after Dr. Thomas Hodgkin, who first described it, and Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). NHL can occur at any age and are often marked by lymph nodes that are larger than normal, fever, and weight loss. There are many different types of NHL. These types can be divided into aggressive (fast-growing) or indolent (slow-growing) types, and they can be formed from either B-cells or T-cells. B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas include Burkitt lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL), diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, immunoblastic large cell lymphoma, precursor B-lymphoblastic lymphoma, and mantle cell lymphoma. T-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas include mycosis fungoides, anaplastic large cell lymphoma, and precursor T-lymphoblastic lymphoma. Lymphomas that occur after bone marrow or stem cell transplantation are usually B-cell NHL. Prognosis and treatment depend on the stage and type of disease. In 2009, it was estimated that there were 65,980 new cases and 19,500 deaths from NHL in the United States alone.

To understand NHL it is good to know a little about how the lymphatic system works. The lymphatic system

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