LymphomaLymphoma or lymphatic cancer is a very serious and potentially fatal disease. In this country, there are an estimated 63,900 new cases, of which 7,100 are Hodgkin's lymphomas as opposed to non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. Since around the 1970s, the frequency of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma has almost doubled while that of Hodgkin's disease has decreased. (Steen, 1993) Lymphoma is the name given to a cancer that infects the lymphatic system. In lymphoma, the lymphatic system contains cells that multiply and cannot be stopped. There are two main types of lymphoma, Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is called lymphoma and Hodgkin's lymphoma is called Hodgkin's disease. Hodgkin's disease is different from non-Hodgkin's disease in that Hodgkin's disease has a Reed-Sternberg cell in areas infected by the cancer. Hodgkin's disease occurs mainly in people aged 15 to 40 or over 55. Non-Hodgkin's cancer is much more common than Hodgkin's disease. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is a group of more than 29 types of lymphomas. These are classified by the National Cancer Society of the United States as aggressive or fast-growing or indolent and slow-growing. (Lymphoma Information Network)The lymphatic system protects the body against agents that can cause disease, such as bacteria or viruses. Within this system, composed of organs such as the spleen and tonsils, are organs that destroy foreign agents, these organs are called lymph nodes. The lymphatic system works as follows: the bone marrow produces blood cells, including white blood cells. White blood cells are the cells that detect and destroy pathogens. B and T cells change a lot to defend the body against pathogens. It is while B cells are changing that cancers can infect them. (Lymphoma Information Network)The cause of Hodgkin's disease is not known, but the symptoms are well known and fairly easy to detect. Lymph nodes in the neck, armpits, or chest begin to swell. The swelling should be painless to the touch, not painful or tender, if it was painful it would most likely be caused by ...... middle of paper ...... University of Birmingham) Lymphoma is diagnosed by taking a swab tissue on an inflamed area and examining it under a microscope. It is treated in the same way as Hodgkin's disease, with radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Lymphoma, however, can be treated very differently from Hodgkin's disease. Observation is a method in which a slow-growing lymphoma is simply observed until it affects or affects an organ. In case of relapse, a cell stem transplant is performed. (Mayo Health Clinic)BibliographyBuckman, R. (1995). What you really need to know about cancer. London: The John Hopkin's press ltd. Cancerbacup. September. 1999. http://www.cancerbacup. org.uk/info/hodgkins.htm Cancerhelp UK. April. 1999. http://medweb.bham.ac.uk/cancerhelp/public/special/lymphoma/treat/ Which.html Lymphoma Information Network. October 3, 1999. http://www.lymphomainfo.net Mayo Clinic. 1999. http://www.mayohealth.org/mayo/9609/htm/nonhodge.htmSteen, R. (1993). The Cell Conspiracy. New York: plenary press.