The Wellness Community

Frankly Speaking About Lymphoma

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Table Of Contents
Main Page Being Patient Active with Lymphoma   Your Treatment Team   The Physician-Patient Relationship   Actions People with Lymphoma Can Take   Finding a Lymphoma Specialist Understanding Lymphoma - Basic Facts   Hodgkin's Lymphoma   Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma   Indolent Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma   Aggressive Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Treatment For Lymphoma - Overview   Treating Hodgkin's Lymphoma   Treating Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma   Novel Therapy for Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Clinical Trials & Lymphoma   Why Consider a Clinical Trial?   Finding a Clinical Trial Making the Mind-Body Connection   Integrating Mind-Body Practices into Lymphoma Treatment   Mind-Body Practice Exercises   Complementary & Alternative Medicine Maximizing Your Health & Well-Being   Nutrition & Hydration   Exercise & Physical Activities   Stress & Career Managing the Personal Impact   Psychological Concerns   Family & Friends   The Value of Emotional Support   Spiritual Issues   Financial, Insurance, Employment & Legal Matters Valuable Resources go

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) is one of two types of cancer of the lymph system. The other type is Hodgkin's lymphoma. (See the section titled Hodgkin's Lymphoma.) NHL can be either Indolent or Aggressive. Indolent NHL is a low-grade lymphoma that usually grows slowly and requires treatment less urgently than aggressive (intermediate or high-grade) forms of the disease.

Understanding Lymphoma:
Indolent Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Indolent (or low grade) non-Hodgkin's lymphoma tends to be in the advanced stages at the time of diagnosis, and is not currently considered "curable." But patients often live for years after diagnosis. Indolent NHL is usually slow growing and requires less urgent treatment than aggressive NHL. Indolent NHL includes the following subtypes:

Follicular B-cell lymphoma is the second most common type of B-cell lymphoma, comprising 30% of all cases. Since B-cells circulate in the blood, this type of lymphoma can appear in many parts of the body.

Small lymphocytic Lymphoma (SLL) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) are related diseases that are managed in much the same way.

Marginal zone lymphoma includes three different types, one that mainly occurs outside the lymph nodes (extranodal marginal zone lymphoma), which is the most common, nodal marginal zone, and primary splenic marginal zone, which is commonly associated with lymphoma cells detectable in the blood stream.

Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia is a type of lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma. It often affects older adults and bone marrow involvement is common. A high level of a protein, called IgM is detectable in the blood.

For more information about Hodgkin's lymphoma or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, please contact the Lymphoma Research Foundation for its patient education booklets, Understanding Hodgkin's Lymphoma An Introductory Guide for Patients and Understanding Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma: An Introductory Guide for Patients.

The Wellness Community provides this information as a service. Publication of this information is not intended to take the place of medical care or the advice of your doctor. The Wellness Community strongly suggests consulting your doctor or other health care professional about the information presented.

Updated June 23, 2008

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