Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL)

Lymphoma is a type of blood cancer that affects the immune system. It specifically affects white blood cells called lymphocytes, which are an important part of your immune system. Lymphoma is also called a cancer of the lymphatic system, or lymphatic cancer.

In lymphoma, something goes wrong with the development of your lymphocytes. The lymphocytes don’t work properly and can multiply out of control.

There are two main types of lymphoma – Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Both types affect your lymphocytes.

Over 14,000 people are diagnosed with lymphoma each year in the UK, making it the most common blood cancer.

In most cases we don’t know what causes lymphoma, but there are some things which can make the risk of developing the disease slightly higher:

• age
• sex
• family history
• lowered immunity
• infections.

A common lymphoma symptom is lumps. These are swollen lymph nodes (glands). You may get painless swellings in your neck, collarbone, armpit, groin or other parts of your body.

Some swollen lymph nodes can press on organs and cause pain in your chest, coughing, breathlessness, or pain in your stomach area.

Other lymphoma symptoms include:

• fever (high temperature)
• weight loss that is unexplained
• night sweats that soak your clothes and bedding.

We have more detailed information about lymphoma symptoms in general, and for specific types of lymphoma – see Lymphoma types below.

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