Lymphoma Prevention

Lymphoma can affect any part of the lymphatic system — lymph nodes, vessels, spleen, bone marrow — and it can impact people of all ages. This makes it difficult to understand who is at risk, as well as when and why. As a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, Winship is heading up key research to identify specific lymphoma risk factors, as well as the most effective screening techniques and prevention guidelines.

There are two main types of lymphoma.

• Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). You may have heard this referred to as Hodgkin disease. In HL, cells in the lymphatic system grow abnormally and may spread beyond it. Of all the blood cancers, HL is one of the most curable, but less common of the two types of lymphoma.
• Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). NHL is one of the most common cancers in the United States. Though NHL can develop at any age, more than half of patients diagnosed with the disease are between 65 and 74 years of age.

• Age. HL is most common in people between ages 15 and 40, particularly those in their 20s, as well as people over the age of 55.
• Sex. Men are slightly more likely than women to develop HL.
• Family history of lymphoma. If you have a direct relative with HL or NHL, this increases your risk of getting the disease.
• HIV infection. HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, has been linked with elevated risk of developing lymphoma.
• Epstein-Barr virus infection. People who have had illnesses caused by the Epstein-Barr virus, such as mononucleosis, are at a mild risk for developing HL

• Age. NHL is most commonly found in people ages 60 or older, though it can occur at any age. In fact, it is a common cancer among children, teens and young adults.
• Race. Caucasian people are at a greater risk of developing NHL than African Americans and Asian Americans.
• Exposure to radiation and certain chemicals. Some lymphomas can be caused by the treatment of other cancers with radiation and chemotherapy.
• Weakened immune system. Treatment of other cancers with immune-suppressing drugs to avoid rejection of a transplanted organ is linked to an increased risk of lymphoma.
• Autoimmune diseases. Some autoimmune diseases and their treatments have been associated with an increased risk of the development of lymphoma.

Because lymphoma affects your immune system, there are steps you can take to prevent it, such as limiting your risk of contracting infections and making lifestyle changes that help you maintain a healthy immune system. You can also reduce your risk if you:

• Keep physically active.
• Eat a diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
• Avoid foods such as processed meats and sugary drinks.
• Avoid tobacco.
• Avoid known risk factors for HIV, such as intravenous drug use or unprotected sex with partners whose HIV status you do not know.
• Maintain a healthy weight (body mass index below 25).
• Drink alcohol in moderation or not at all.

Besides researching new therapies for treating lymphoma, Winship Cancer Institute is also collaborating on a study to determine how to prevent non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The study is a collaborative effort among eight centers nationwide examining, among other things, biological markers that may be associated with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.