Leon Barretto

World Lymphoma Awareness Day is observed on September 15 every year. World Lymphoma Awareness Day helps raise awareness about lymphoma (a form of cancer). Lymphoma is a type of blood cancer. Lymphoma is cancer that begins in infection-fighting cells of the immune system, called lymphocytes. The lymphatic system includes the lymph nodes (lymph glands), spleen, thymus gland, and bone marrow. Lymphoma can affect all those areas as well as other organs throughout the body. Over 580,000 people are diagnosed with lymphoma each year worldwide.

There are more than 70 different types of lymphoma. The main subtypes are:

• Hodgkin's lymphoma (formerly called Hodgkin's disease)
• Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

The cancer is named after Thomas Hodgkin who first described abnormalities in the lymphatic system in 1832.

Most patients with Hodgkin lymphoma live long and healthy lives following successful treatment. Although slow-growing forms of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma are currently not curable. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is currently not curable. You can never catch lymphoma or you cannot pass it on to someone else. Some viruses can cause lymphoma in some people.

Scientists at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, identified six new genetic changes that increase the risk of developing Hodgkin lymphoma -- one of the most common cancers in young adults.

Your immune system protects your body from infection and disease. Lymphocytes, the white blood cells that become cancerous in lymphoma. If your immunity system doesn’t function as well as it should (immunodeficiency) then you might develop infections easily or not get rid of them as quickly as other people. Like, patients suffering from lymphoma and having low levels of immunity are considered among the groups at high risk of contracting a virus. Such as Covid-19.

Lymphoma treatments include:

• Active surveillance.
• Chemotherapy.
• Radiation therapy.
• Bone marrow transplant.
• Other treatments.