Lymphoma begins with a change to the structure of DNA in the white blood cells in the lymph.
This is known as a genetic mutation.
The DNA gives the cells a basic set of instructions, such as when to grow and reproduce. The mutation in the DNA changes these instructions so that the cells keep growing. This causes them to multiply uncontrollably.
The abnormal lymphocyte cells usually begin to multiply in one or more lymph nodes in a particular area of the body, such as your neck or groin. Over time, it is possible for the abnormal lymphocyte cells to spread into other parts of your body, such as your bone marrow, spleen, liver, skin and lungs.
What triggers lymphoma?
The cause of the initial mutation that triggers lymphoma is unknown. Some experts believe it could be due to a number of related causes.
The known risk factors for developing lymphoma are:
- Having a medical condition that weakens your immune system, such as HIV (this is known as immunosuppression).
- Having medical treatment that weakens your immune system; for example, taking immunosuppressants because you have received an organ transplant.
- Being previously exposed to the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which very slightly increases your chance of developing lymphoma. EBV is however a common virus and most healthy people have been infected by this virus in the past, even though they may not remember having had glandular fever.
- Being previously exposed to the Human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV), which slightly increases your chance of developing lymphoma.
- Having a Helicobacter pylori infection, which is a known cause for a type of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma called MALT lymphoma. H. pylori is a common bacterial infection that usually infects the lining of the stomach and small intestine. Treating the infection can sometimes make this type of lymphoma go away.
- Having received chemotherapy or radiotherapy for an earlier cancer – this slightly increases your risk of developing lymphoma.
- Having coeliac disease (an allergy to gluten that causes inflammation of the small bowel) – this slightly increases your risk of developing non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. It is more common if you haven’t strictly avoided gluten.
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is not infectious and is not generally believed to run in families, although there is a slightly higher chance of developing the condition if you have an identical twin with the cancer.
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Overview - Causes of non-Hodgkin"s lymphoma
