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Lymphoma - Is it a Type of Leukemia? Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system. The lymph nodes are found in various places around the body. Whenever the word cancer is mentioned, our minds instantly associate it with one of the worst types of diseases people can be diagnosed with. There are many types of cancers. Some cancers start in the lymphatic system like lymphoma. There are actually two types of lymphoma: Hodgkin’s lymphoma and non-hodgkin’s lymphoma. The lymphatic system is made up of lymph nodes, lymphocyte cells, bone marrow of the thymus and long bones, the spleen, tonsils and adenoids as well as the lymph. Other cancers can also start within the lymph nodes such as breast cancer. However breast cancer symptoms are not the same as lymphoma blood cancers. Lymphoma is the most common of blood cancers and it affects just about 56% of the patients with blood cancer. Because lymphoma and leukemia are both blood cancers, many people think they are one in the same disease. They are not. Hodgkin’s lymphoma is named after Thomas Hodgkin. Mr. Hodgkin discovered this disease in 1832. There are two types of lymphoma named after Thomas Hodgkin. Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Lymphoma develops when the white blood cells, called lymphocytes, progressively multiply as a result of malignant changes within the lymph nodes and other areas in the body. They begin to grow in large numbers, pushing out healthy cells. This is what leads to the formation of tumors in the lymph nodes. Other areas affected can be the spleen and thymus and so forth. Lymphoma can originate in the blood and bone marrow as well as the lymph nodes or lymphatic tissues, which are present in the stomach or intestines. From the bone marrow it can spread to many other parts of the body. Because leukemia is also a blood cancer disease, many people confuse this disease with lymphoma. In addition to being a blood cancer disease, leukemia also can start within the bone marrow. However, these two disease are very different and the two have very different types of treatments as well. Lymphoma is the sixth most common cancer in men and the fifth most prevalent caner among women in the US. There are two major types of Leukemia: myelogenous and lymphocytic. There are acute and chronic forms of each of these types. Although a great deal of information can be found both on-line and offline about lymphoma, it is always best to seek out medical care if you have any suspicious symptoms. Sadly, there are many different types of cancers. There are several types that affect the blood. Blood cancers that in the bone marrow are not to be confused with bone cancer. If you have been diagnosed with lymphoma or any other type of cancer, you should discuss treatment options, care, and ways in which you can gain emotional support as well.
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