Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Symptoms, types, and treatments for one of the most common cancers in the United States.

Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma affects white blood cells known as lymphocytes, which are part of the immune system. It’s distinguished from Hodgkin’s lymphoma by the absence of large, abnormal cells called Reed-Sternberg cells.

One of the most common cancers in the United States, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is most often diagnosed in people older than 66.

Our hematologic-oncologists are among the most experienced teams in Michigan, so you can be confident in the expertise of your care team.

Symptoms of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

The signs of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma can depend on where in the body it is located. Symptoms may include:

• Enlarged spleen
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Night sweats
• Shortness of breath
• Swollen belly and feeling full after a small amount of food
• Unexplained weight loss

Types of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

There are many types of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and they may be indolent (slow-growing) or aggressive (fast-growing). Types are determined by the kind of white blood cell from which they form: B-cells or T-cells. Nearly 85 percent of non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas are B-cell lymphomas.

Each of these types of non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas include many subtypes:

• B-cell: follicular lymphoma, mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT), marginal zone lymphoma, small lymphocytic lymphoma, Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia, lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, double hit lymphoma, lymphoblastic lymphoma, Burkitt lymphoma
• T-cell: peripheral T cell lymphoma not otherwise specified (NOS), anaplastic large cell lymphoma, angioimmunoblastic T cell lymphoma, extranodal NK/T cell lymphoma, subcutaneous panniculitis-like T cell lymphoma, enteropathy associated T cell lymphoma, hepatosplenic T cell lymphoma, cutaneous T-cell lymphoma

How we treat non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

Once your non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is diagnosed, your doctor will suggest a treatment plan based on the type, its stage, your medical history, and your preferences.

We may recommend one or more of the following treatments:

• Bone marrow transplant
• Chemotherapy
• Immunotherapy
• Radiation