Lymphomas are cancers of the immune system and involve white blood cells. Lymph tissue is part of the body's immune system, which sends out white blood cells and antibodies to fight infection. In Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, cells in the lymphatic system, called lymphocytes, become abnormal and crowd into the lymph nodes, which causes them to swell.

Causes

The cause of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is unknown. Although non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma can occur at any age, the incidence rises with increasing age.

Symptoms

The most common symptom of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is a painless swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck, underarm, or groin. Other symptoms may include:

• Fever
• Night sweats
• Extreme fatigue
• Weight loss
• Itchy skin
   

Treatment

Treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma depends on the stage of the disease, the grade of the disease, and your age and general health. The two most common treatments are radiation and chemotherapy. A combination of the two is usually most effective. In some cases patients benefit from bone marrow transplants.