A type of cancer, lymphoma affects the white blood cell known as lymphocytes in the lymphatic system. These cells are the body’s defense mechanism against diseases and infections. Lymphoma causes lymphocytes to reproduce at a faster rate. It can develop in different parts of the body starting in the lymph nodes. One of the very first symptoms is swollen lymph nodes, which are not painful.

There are two categories of lymphomas, namely, Hodgkin’s lymphoma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Hodgkin’s lymphoma is one of the rarest types of cancer. It is usually characterized by the presence of Reed–Sternberg (RS) cells. Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is more common than Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

• B-cell lymphoma – The B-cell lymphoma is one of the most aggressive forms of Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a fast-growing lymphoma. It develops from abnormal B-cells present in the blood and damages the structure of the lymph node. Early diagnosis and resultant treatment can lead to a complete cure. The symptoms of this type of lymphoma include enlarged lymph nodes, night sweats, unusual weight loss, loss of appetite, extreme tiredness or fatigue, fever, and extreme itchiness. Moreover, there can be abdominal pain, diarrhea, bloody stools, cough, and shortness of breath.

Hodgkin’s lymphoma

• Lymphocyte-depleted Hodgkin’s disease – This type of Hodgkin’s lymphoma is rare, and yet aggressive. About 1 percent of lymphoma cases are lymphocyte-depleted Hodgkin’s disease. This type of lymphoma has been mostly diagnosed in persons who are in their 30s. People who have a weak immune system or have an infection such as HIV are more susceptible to this disease. People with this disease have normal lymphocytes with a lot of RS cells. This is what doctors observe in diagnostic tests.
• Lymphocyte-rich Hodgkin’s disease – This type comprises nearly 5 percent of all lymphoma cases. Lymphocyte-rich Hodgkin’s disease is more common in men than in women. In diagnostic tests, the presence of lymphocytes as well as RS cells is observed. This helps in early diagnosis of the disease.
• Nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin’s disease – In diagnostic tests, this type of lymphoma does not show any RS cells. It is observed mostly in males between 30 years and 50 years. This is a non-aggressive type of Hodgkin’s disease. Around 5 percent of lymphoma cases are nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin’s disease.
• Mixed cellularity Hodgkin’s lymphoma – This is similar to lymphocyte-rich Hodgkin’s disease. In diagnostic tests, doctors can observe RS cells as well as lymphocytes. It is more prevalent in older men. This type of lymphoma is more common compared to other types as nearly a quarter cases are of mixed cellularity type.
• Nodular sclerosis Hodgkin’s lymphoma – This is a very common type of lymphoma. Nearly 70 percent of lymphoma cases are nodular sclerosis Hodgkin’s lymphoma. It is mostly observed among young adults. This type of lymphoma develops in the lymph nodes that have sclerosis or scar tissues. Compared to other types of lymphoma, this one can be treated successfully and is completely curable.