What is lymphoma?

---

What is lymphoma?

Lymphoma is the fifth most common type of cancer in the UK. It can develop at any age.

Watch our animation explaining what lymphoma is, how it develops and treatments available. This animation is also available in Polish, Punjabi and Romanian.

Lymphoma is a type of blood cancer. It develops when a type of white blood cell, called lymphocytes, grow out of control. Lymphocytes are part of your immune system, which helps to fight infection. Lymphocytes travel around your body in the lymphatic system which contains a fluid called lymph. The lymph fluid passes through glands (lymph nodes), which are spread throughout your body. For this reason, lymphoma might also be referred to as a cancer of the immune system.

If you have lymphoma, your lymphocytes divide in an abnormal way or do not die when they should. The abnormal lymphocytes build up. This can be in almost any part of your body, but is often felt in your armpits, neck or groin. 

The symptoms of lymphoma depend on where the lymphoma starts, what parts of your body it affects, and what type of lymphoma it is. 

There are over 60 different types of lymphoma, broadly grouped into Hodgkin lymphomas and non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Non-Hodgkin lymphomas are further grouped depending on whether they are slow-growing (described as ‘low-grade’ or ‘indolent’) or fast-growing (‘high-grade’ or ‘aggressive’). Different types of lymphoma behave differently and need different treatment.

Watch Professor Andy Davies give an overview of what lymphoma is and how it develops 

We also have a video by Dr Rob Lown, who gives a more detailed introduction to lymphoma.

Other types of blood cancer

Lymphoma, leukaemia and myeloma are all types of blood cancer (also known as ‘haematological’ cancers). Although there are similarities between some types of lymphoma and leukaemia, most types develop differently. They also require different treatment.

If you would like information or support in relation to other types of blood cancers, you might be interested in our useful organisations listing, which includes blood cancer organisations.

Back to top

---

How cancer develops

Our bodies are made up of cells. You might think of these as tiny building blocks. 

Each day, cells grow and divide to make new cells, replacing old cells that die off naturally. This balance of cell division and cell loss is carefully controlled by chemical signals so that we only make the number of new cells our body needs.

Cancer develops when a mistake (mutation) happens during cell division. This changes the genetic code (DNA) inside a cell. Most of the time, these changes are harmless. However, they can sometimes disrupt important processes within our cells. This can create abnormal cells that stop ‘listening’ to the chemical signals that control cell division. The cells can then:

• divide and multiply when they shouldn’t
• keep dividing when they should stop
• stay alive when they should die. 

When this happens, a group of cells can form that divide faster than they die, leading to a build-up of abnormal cells (cancer). It usually takes a number of different mutations for a cancer to develop. 

Once cancer develops, the abnormal cells might stop your body from making normal, healthy cells. This can prevent organs in your body from working properly. The abnormal cells might spread to other parts of the body and start growing there too. Cancer also uses the energy and nutrients your body needs.

There are lots of different types of cancer depending on what type of cell became abnormal. Different types of cancer can cause different symptoms and effects, depending on where the cancer is and how fast it is growing.

Back to top

---

Overview of lymphoma

In this video, Dr Rob Lown gives a more detailed introduction to lymphoma. 

Transcript

---

Information and support

If you, or someone you know, has been diagnosed with lymphoma, we're here for you. We have a range of support services and information you can trust.

Back to top