World Lymphoma Awareness Day on September 15th is dedicated to spreading awareness to the public about cancers of the lymphatic system.
The lymphatic system includes the lymph nodes (lymph glands), spleen, thymus gland and bone marrow. Lymphoma can affect all those areas as well as other organs throughout the body. The two main sub-types are:
Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Non-Hodgkin and Hodgkin lymphoma involve different types of lymphocyte cells. Every type of lymphoma grows at a different rate and responds differently to treatment.
Lymphoma is very treatable, and the outlook can vary depending on the type of lymphoma and its stage. Your doctor can help you find the right treatment for your type and stage of the illness.
Tests and procedures used to diagnose lymphoma include physical exam, removing a lymph node for testing, blood tests, removing a sample of bone marrow for testing, imaging tests like CT, MRI and positron emission tomography (PET).