Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, also called non-Hodgkin lymphoma or NHL, is a cancer originating in lymphocytes, which are cells in the immune system. Within NHL, there are two sub-types of lymphomas: T-cell lymphomas and B-cell lymphomas. According to the American Cancer Society, B-cell lymphomas comprise about 85 percent of NHL diagnoses in the United States.
Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma
Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is one of the more common types of NHL, making up about 30 percent of NHL diagnoses, according to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. This kind of lymphoma is a fast-growing cancer that is typically diagnosed in individuals over 60 years old, although it can be diagnosed at any age. The American Cancer Society estimates that about half of individuals with this cancer are cured with treatment.
Follicular Lymphoma
One out of five NHLs in the United States are follicular lymphomas, according to the American Cancer Society. Follicular lymphoma is a slow-growing B-cell lymphoma that is typically found in lymph nodes throughout the body and in the bone marrow. The mean age at diagnosis is 60 years old. Despite the fact that this kind of lymphoma is hard to cure, the five-year survival rate, or percentage of individuals alive five years post-diagnosis is approximately 70 percent. Treatment can help control the disease, as the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society states, but it eventually becomes more aggressive in many cases.
Primary Mediastinal B-cell Lymphoma
Approximately two percent of NHL diagnoses are that of primary mediastinal B-cell lymphomas, according to the American Cancer Society. This cancer starts in the mediastinum around the heart and chest bone, and can cause breathing problems. This type of lymphoma affects women more than men--two out of three diagnoses are in women--and is a fast-growing cancer. With treatment, nearly half of individuals with this lymphoma can be cured.
Burkitt Lymphoma
Burkitt lymphoma is a B-cell lymphoma that makes up one to two percent of NHL diagnoses. It is a fast-growing cancer, and in the United States, it typically presents in the abdomen as a mass. It may also originate in the ovaries or testes and can spread to the brain. The average age at diagnosis is 30 years old, and men make up 90 percent of those diagnosed. With treatment, more than half of patients will be cured.
Peripheral T-cell Lymphomas
This group of T-cell lymphomas make up five percent of NHL diagnoses, and are fairly rare. Types of NHL that fall into this category include cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, which starts in the skin; angioimmunoblasticT-cell lymphoma, which starts in lymph nodes and can spread to the spleen and liver; anaplastic large cell lymphoma, which is common in younger individuals and children; and peripheral T-cell lymphoma, unspecified. About half of peripheral T-cell lymphomas are unspecified, which means they cannot be classified into any established group. Long-term survival is not the norm with these lymphomas, and they tend to be fast-growing.
