Lymphoma

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is the 6th most common cancer in the UK. Around 14,000 people are diagnosed with it each year. It can affect people at any age but is more common as people get older. Most people diagnosed with NHL are aged over 55.

Around 2,100 people are diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in the UK each year. Hodgkin lymphoma can happen at any age. It is one of the most common cancers to affect people in their teens and early 20s. 

People sometimes search for lymphoma statistics to help them understand what might happen to someone in their situation. This is called prognosis. Doctors cannot predict exactly what will happen in the future. But they may use some of the following types of statistics to help them make an estimate:

• Lymphoma survival rates — this is the number of people who are alive after certain periods of time after a lymphoma diagnosis. It includes people who have no signs of lymphoma and also people who have lymphoma that has come back.
• Lymphoma recurrence or relapse rates — this is the number of people whose lymphoma has come back after certain periods of time after treatment.
• Lymphoma mortality — this is the number of people who have died because of lymphoma during a certain period of time.

You may find this information helpful, but not everyone wants or needs this type of information. Statistics can be complex and difficult to understand. They may help you understand your chances of a possible outcome. But they do not tell you what will definitely happen to you.

If you want information about lymphoma statistics, or you find numbers online that might apply to you, it is best to talk about them with your cancer doctor or nurse. They can explain:

• which statistics apply to someone with your diagnosis
• what the information may mean to someone with your diagnosis
• how this may affect any treatment decisions you are thinking about.

If you have symptoms, you usually start by seeing your GP.  They may arrange for you to have blood tests or scans. Your doctor will refer you to hospital for tests and for specialist advice and treatment.

At the hospital, the doctor will ask about any symptoms, your general health and any illnesses you have had. They will also examine you.

If you think you may be pregnant, tell your doctor. Some tests and treatments for lymphoma can be harmful to a baby in the womb. If you are pregnant you usually still have tests and treatment for lymphoma. But it is important to talk to your doctor so they can plan your care safely.

The most important test for diagnosing lymphoma is a biopsy. A doctor or nurse removes  a small piece of tissue or a sample of cells from the affected area. 

The most common place to take a biopsy from is an enlarged lymph node. You may have all or part of the lymph node removed.

The tissue is examined under a microscope by a doctor called a pathologist. They look for lymphoma cells and do different tests on the cells.

You may have to wait up to 2 weeks for the results of the biopsy.

You will have more tests before you start treatment for lymphoma. Some tests help to show the stage of the lymphoma.

You may have other tests, such as blood tests or x-rays to check your general health and how well your heart, lungs, liver and kidneys are working.

For example, your doctor will do blood tests to check the levels of different blood cells in your blood. They may also talk to you about having blood tests to check for certain viruses, such as HIV and hepatitis.

Information from tests helps your doctors plan your treatment safely and effectively. You may have some of the following tests.

Waiting for test results can be a difficult time, we have more information that can help.

A team of specialists will meet to discuss the best possible treatment for you. This is called a multidisciplinary team (MDT).

Your doctor or cancer specialist nurse will explain the different treatments and their side effects. They will also talk to you about things to consider when making treatment decisions.

The treatment you have will depend on:

• the type and stage of the lymphoma
• its grade (if you have non-Hodgkin lymphoma)
• the symptoms you have
• which parts of your body are affected
• your general health
• your preferences.

You can find out more about:

• treatment for Hodgkin lymphoma
• treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

You may have some treatments as part of a clinical trial.

Macmillan is here to support you. If you would like to talk, you can:

• call the Macmillan Support Line free on 0808 808 00 00
• chat to our specialists online
• visit our Hodgkin lymphoma forum or our non-Hodgkin lymphoma forum to talk with people who have been affected by lymphoma, share your experience, and ask an expert your questions.

We know cancer can affect you physically, emotionally and financially. We have information and advice about different ways cancer might impact you, such as help with:

• money and work
• how you're feeling
• uncertainty
• trouble sleeping
• tiredness and fatigue
• managing pain and discomfort
• eating problems and your appetite
• walking and mobility problems.

Watch Yamour talk about her NHL diagnosis

You can watch Yamour and her mother, Isaf, discuss Yamour's diagnosis of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. This video is part of our Mother Tongue series of stories about the impact having cancer information and support in a different language has had on people using our services.

The organisations below also offer information and support:

When someone you know is diagnosed with lymphoma, it can be difficult to know how to support them. You may want information to help you understand what they are going through. Or you may be worried about what to say.

We have information to help with the practical, emotional and financial impacts of supporting someone. You can also talk to us by:

• calling the Macmillan Support Line
• using chat online
• visiting our family and friends forum to talk with people who are supporting someone with cancer, share your experience, and ask an expert your questions.

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