Lymphoma is a type of cancer that begins in the infection-fighting cells of the immune system. These cells or lymphocytes are present in the spleen, lymph nodes, thymus, bone marrow, and other parts of the body. In people with lymphoma, the lymphocytes change, grow out of control, and cause genetic changes that lead to cancer. The common symptoms of the condition are fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, sudden weight loss, unexplained pain or swelling, difficulty in breathing, itchy skin, and night sweats and chills. It is important to keep in mind that not everyone has all these symptoms and the signs vary from case to case.

The different types of lymphoma involve different types of lymphocyte cells. Each type grows at a varied rate and requires immediate treatment. The condition is treatable if discovered at an early stage as treatment depends on the type and the stage of the illness. The two main types of lymphoma are Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s.

Hodgkin’s lymphoma: This type is the cancer of the immune system. It is identified by the presence of Reed-Sternberg (RS) cells in the body. In people with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, cancer moves from one lymph node to the other and spreads. The symptoms of the condition are similar to those of common cold and certain types of viral diseases. Some people might also experience swelling of the lymph nodes in different parts of the body, such as neck, armpits, abdomen or groin. Cancer may spread rapidly from the lymph nodes to other body parts.

There are different types of Hodgkin’s lymphoma, they include the following.

• Lymphocyte-depleted Hodgkin’s disease: This is a rare type that occurs in about 1% of lymphoma cases. Those with a compromised immune system are commonly affected.
• Lymphocyte-rich Hodgkin’s disease: It is more common in men and is usually diagnosed at an early stage.
• Mixed cellularity Hodgkin’s lymphoma: This type contains both RS cells and lymphocytes and is more common in older men.
• Nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin’s disease: It occurs in about 5% of patients and is common in men.
• Nodular sclerosis Hodgkin’s lymphoma: This is the most common type and it occurs in about 70% of Hodgkin’s cases. It affects the lymph nodes and is common in young adults. With timely diagnosis, the condition is treatable.

Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma: According to experts, this condition is more common than Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma forms in the B-cells or T-cells of the immune system.

The different types of lymphoma under NHL are:

• B-cell lymphoma
• T-cell lymphoma
• Burkitt’s lymphoma
• Follicular lymphoma
• Mantle cell lymphoma
• Primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma
• Small lymphocytic lymphoma
• Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia lymphoma

These are thus the different types of lymphoma that can affect children and adults. Hodgkin’s lymphoma is common in children who are 15 years and younger. The NHL type that affects children is quite aggressive and fast-growing and those with immune system deficiencies are at a greater risk of developing it.