What is Hodgkin's lymphoma?
Cancer begins when the cells of the body begin to become uncontrollable. Cells from almost every part of the body can become cancerous and can then spread to other parts of the body. To learn more about the onset and spread of cancer, see what is cancer?
Lymphomas are cancers that begin in white blood cells called lymphocytes. There are 2 main types of lymphoma. Hodgkin's lymphoma (LH) and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). They behave, propagate and react differently to treatment, so it is important that you know which one you have.
This information focuses on Hodgkin's lymphoma. For more information about the other type, see non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
The lymphatic system
To understand what Hodgkin's lymphoma is, it is useful to know the lymphatic system (also known as the lymphatic system). The lymphatic system is part of the immune system, which helps to fight infections and some other diseases. It also helps the flow of fluids into the body.
The lymphatic system consists mainly of cells called lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell. There are 2 main types of lymphocytes:
B lymphocytes (b cells): B cells produce proteins called antibodies to help protect the body of germs (bacteria and viruses).
T lymphocytes (T cells): There are several types of T lymphocytes. Some T cells destroy germs or abnormal cells in the body. Other T cells help to stimulate or slow down the activity of other cells in the immune system.
Hodgkin's lymphoma usually begins in B lymphocytes.
Predominant nodular lymphoma of nodular lymphocytes
Predominant nodular lymphoma of nodular lymphocytes (NLPHL) represents about 5% of the cases. The cancer cells in NLPHL are large cells called popcorn cells (because they resemble popcorn), which are variants of Reed-Sternberg cells.
NLPHL usually starts in the lymph nodes in the neck and under the arm. It can occur in people of all ages, and is more common in men than in women. This type of HL is treated differently from the classical types.
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