Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Lymphomas are cancers that originate in white blood cells called lymphocytes. The two main types of lymphoma are Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). NHL is the 11th most common cancer worldwide with 544,000 new diagnoses in 2020. 304,000 men were diagnosed, and 240,000 women were diagnosed. NHL incidence rates vary globally, and Slovenia had the highest rate in the world, with the United States ranking #11.1

A few risk factors for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) include:2

Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Cancer
  • Age: NHL is more common in people over the age of 60.
  • Gender: NHL occurs more often in men than women, but there are certain types of NHL that are more common in women.
  • Race and Ethnicity: In the United States, Caucasians are more likely to develop NHL than Blacks or Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders.
  • Geography: NHL is most common in North America and Northern Europe. NHL is least common in Asian countries.
  • Radiation Exposure
  • Chemical Exposure: Exposure to certain chemicals like benzene, certain herbicides (weed killers) and insecticides (insect killers) may increase the risk of NHL.
  • Immune Suppression

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