The treatment of NHL will depend on the type and stage. Some types of NHL are curable (disappearance of all evidence of disease) with existing therapies which include chemotherapy, radiation and monoclonal antibodies (antibody is made from a single clone of cells). However some types of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma are not curable with existing therapies and are eventually fatal.

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) is cancer of the cells of the lymphatic system. In non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, cells in the lymphatic system either divide and grow without order or control, or old cells do not die as cells normally do. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma can start almost anywhere in the body. It may occur in a single lymph node, a group of lymph nodes, or an organ such as the spleen. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma can spread to almost any part of the body, including the liver, bone marrow, and spleen.

The cause of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is not known. The incidence of NHL has continued to increase over the years. When a person has non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, abnormal rapid cell growth occurs. This abnormal growth may be triggered by an infection or exposure to something in the environment. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is not contagious.

When non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is suspected, a piece of tissue (biopsy) must be obtained to confirm the diagnosis. Occasionally this can be done by inserting a needle into a lymph node, but usually the entire lymph node must be removed. The piece of tissue is then analyzed under a microscope by a pathologist to see whether NHL is present.

There are many different types of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Over the years, experts have used a variety of terms to classify these different types. Most often, they are grouped by how the cancer cells look under a microscope and how quickly they are likely to grow and spread. Aggressive lymphomas, also known as intermediate- and high-grade lymphomas, tend to grow and spread quickly and cause severe symptoms.

Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL) is a cancer that starts in the lymphatic system. Most people are familiar with lymph nodes; however the lymphatic system is a complex network of organs, ducts and nodes that interact with the blood circulatory system. The system of lymphatic vessels run throughout the body and connect lymph organs (bone marrow, spleen, thymus and lymph nodes (glands)). Circulating through the lymph system are white blood cells called lymphocytes.

Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma is the sixth most common cancer in the USA. Although people of any age can develop NHL, the risk increases with age. More than half the cases are in people age 60 years and older. It is estimated that 56,000 new cases of NHL were diagnosed in the USA in 2003.

There are some excellent organizations dedicated to providing comprehensive, up-to-date information for patients and their families on the disease information, current treatments, research, clinical trials and support services. Below are the organizations and their web sites. Lymphoma Research Foundation www.lymphoma.org The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society www.leukemia-lymphoma.org Lymphoma Focus www.lymphomafocus.org American Cancer Society www.cancer.org National Cancer Institute www.cancer.

The cells of each of these diseases look different under a microscope. They also spread differently. Hodgkin's spreads in a more predictable way and not as much as non-Hodgkin's.

Staging is the process of determining whether cancer has spread and, if so, how far. There are various staging symptoms that are used for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Always consult your child's physician for information on staging. One method of staging non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is the following: stage III - involves tumors in any number that occur on both sides of the body, but does not involve bone marrow or the central nervous system.

Most children have stage III or IV disease at the time of diagnosis because of the sudden onset of symptoms. The disease can progress quickly from a few days to a few weeks. A child can go from otherwise healthy to having multi-system involvement in a short time period.

The doctor will ask about your medical history and will do a thorough physical exam. The only sure way to tell whether cancer is present is with a biopsy. Tissue from an enlarged lymph node is removed. By examining this tissue under the microscope, a pathologist can identify the cancer cells and tell whether the cancer is lymphoma and what type it is. There are many types of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Some types spread more quickly than others.

The first and most common sign is often a painless swelling of the lymph nodes either in the neck, arm pit or groin. However lymph nodes can be enlarged for reasons other than cancer. Other symptoms include night sweats, weight loss, unexplained high temperatures and fatigue. If the disease has spread from the lymph nodes to other organs, other symptoms will appear. For example if the cancer has spread to the stomach, the patient will experience nausea, vomiting or stomach pain.

The treatment of any lymphoma depends on its stage, which is how far the cancer has spread. In a very early stage, radiation may be the sole treatment. Combination chemotherapy is the most common treatment. There are many different regimens available. There's also immunotherapy, which uses drugs monoclonal antibodies. In rare cases, a surgeon may take out a diseased spleen.

During the natural course of indolent non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, patients will average five to six treatments during their lifetime. Because patients with indolent non-Hodgkin's lymphoma will ultimately relapse, the goal for a physician is to keep patients off therapy and free of relapse for as long as possible. Therefore, the most important endpoint in treating indolent non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is duration of response, as compared to response rate.

The sites below list most of the clinical trials currently enrolling patients for Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. (Click in the link below)

The vaccine is being studied in only follicular Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (slow growing B-cell lymphoma). Additionally it is currently being studied only in newly diagnosed patients.

Lymphoma cells have the ability to spread beyond the original site.

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