Lymphoma
Being diagnosed with lymphoma can be worrying. If you or someone you care about has been affected by lymphoma, you may have some questions.
This page provides more information about lymphoma to get you started. For more in-depth details or additional support, please explore the links at the end of the page.
How lymphoma starts
Lymphoma is a type of blood cancer. It affects white blood cells, which are important for protecting the body against infection.1,2
It’s not always clear what causes lymphoma, but there are certain factors that increase someone’s risk of getting it. These include being a certain age, having a weakened immune system or being exposed to certain viruses.3,4
Types of lymphoma
There are many types of lymphoma. These fall into two groups:2
HL is a specific type of lymphoma. When the cancer cells are placed under a microscope, a specific type of cell called a Reed-Sternberg cell can be seen.5 In the UK, there are just over 2,000 cases of HL per year.*6
nHL isn’t just one type of cancer – it’s actually more than 60 different types. They are described based on how quickly they grow (high-grade or low-grade) and which type of cell they started in (B cells or T cells). In the UK, there are over 13,000 cases of nHL per year .*7,8
*Estimates based on the average number of people diagnosed in the UK each year between 2017 and 2019.
Treatment options for lymphoma
The exact treatment given to someone with lymphoma depends on a few things, including which type of lymphoma they have and which stage it is (meaning how big it is and whether it has spread to another part of the body).9,10
Common treatments for lymphoma include:9,11
- Chemotherapy: this uses drugs to kill the cancer cells or to slow their growth. It may be used for Hodgkin lymphoma or non-Hodgkin lymphoma2
- Radiotherapy: this aims high-energy rays at cancer cells to kill them. It tends to be used for early-stage lymphomas
- Targeted therapy: these medicines target changes in cancer cells that allow them to grow and survive in the body. They may be used for Hodgkin lymphoma or non-Hodgkin lymphoma
- Active monitoring (also known as ‘watch and wait’): some people with non-Hodgkin lymphoma may not need treatment straightaway and instead their healthcare team will closely monitor the cancer before starting treatment
Your treatment plan will be specific to you. It’s important to speak with your healthcare team to fully understand your options and what to expect from your treatment.
Remember that support is available and you’re not alone in this.
Explore More on Lymphoma
If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with cancer, support groups and charities are great places to find information and connect with people going through a similar experience.
Life with cancer is different for everyone. So, if you need support, it should be personal to you. ByYourSide has been created by Pfizer to offer you practical support and guidance to help you manage life with cancer in a way that is best for you.
References
- Blood Cancer UK. Lymphoma. Available from: https://bloodcancer.org.uk/understanding-blood-cancer/lymphoma/ [Accessed May 2025].
- Lymphoma Action. What is lymphoma? Available from: https://lymphoma-action.org.uk/about-lymphoma/what-lymphoma [Accessed May 2025].
- NHS. Hodgkin lymphoma: causes. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hodgkin-lymphoma/causes/ [Accessed May 2025].
- NHS. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma: causes. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/non-hodgkin-lymphoma/causes/ [Accessed May 2025].
- Mayo Clinic. Hodgkin's vs. non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: What's the difference? Available from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hodgkins-lymphoma/expert-answers/lymphoma/faq-20058546 [Accessed May 2025].
- CRUK. Hodgkin lymphoma statistics. Available from: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/statistics-by-cancer-type/hodgkin-lymphoma/incidence [Accessed May 2025].
- Lymphoma Action. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Available from: https://lymphoma-action.org.uk/types-lymphoma/non-hodgkin-lymphoma [Accessed May 2025].
- CRUK. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma incidence statistics. Available from: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/statistics-by-cancer-type/non-hodgkin-lymphoma/incidence [Accessed May 2025].
- Macmillan. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma treatment. Available from: https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/lymphoma/non-hodgkin [Accessed May 2025].
- Blood Cancer UK. Hodgkin lymphoma treatment. Available from: https://bloodcancer.org.uk/understanding-blood-cancer/lymphoma/hodgkin-lymphoma/treatment/ [Accessed May 2025].
- NHS. Hodgkin lymphoma treatment. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hodgkin-lymphoma/treatment/ [Accessed May 2025].