The difference between Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is the presence of a type of cell called Reed Sternberg cells, a term used to describe B-lymphocytes that have become cancerous, causing Hodgkin lymphoma. B-lymphocytes are important in producing antibodies to fight infections, and in Hodgkin lymphoma, these cells have become cancerous and no longer have the ability to fight infections.

Although Hodgkin lymphoma can happen at any age, it tends to be more common in young adults. Around 2,100 people are diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in the UK every year. Hodgkin lymphoma can start anywhere in the lymphatic system, but it is most commonly found in the lymph nodes in the neck. As Hodgkin lymphoma progresses, the cancerous Reed Sternberg cells multiply and spread throughout the lymphatic system.

80% of lymphomas are NHL. They are found in approximately 13,900 people every year in the UK and are the 6th most common type of cancer in adults. There are approximately 60 types of NHL, and patients must be diagnosed with the correct type of NHL as they can behave very differently and require different treatments. To differentiate the different types of NHL, you can look at the type of white blood cells it affects, typically either B- or T-lymphocytes.

NHL begins in the lymphatic system, meaning it can start just about anywhere in the body. Cancerous, abnormal lymphocytes quickly multiply in lymphoma. These cells cannot fight or prevent infections, leaving patients more susceptible to developing infections. These cancerous lymphocytes can then build up anywhere in the lymphatic system, including the bone marrow or spleen. As these cells build up, they grow into tumours. This then causes problems throughout the lymphatic system, or in the organ the tumour is growing.