Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a form of cancer that starts in the lymphatic system, which plays an important part in the immune system. In people with this disease, lymphocytes, a type of white blood cells, are produced abnormally. This leads to tumors in different body parts. In this article, we will list the most common types of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Follicular Lymphoma
Follicular lymphoma accounts for 20 to 30 percent of non-Hodgkin lymphoma cases. It is a form of B-cell lymphoma, which causes tumor cells appearing in a circular shape under the microscope. 9 out of 10 patients with this cancer have CD20, a type of protein, on the surface of the cancer cells.
Follicular lymphoma mostly affects older adults. The average age at diagnosis is around 60 years old. Men is slightly more affected than women. It tends to appear as a chronic disease, which develops slowly over time. Typical symptoms include a painless swelling on the groin, armpit, or neck, shortness of breath, tiredness, loss of appetite, as well as unexplained pain or ache. Currently, the exact causes are still unclear, but the condition is not caused by an infection. [1]
