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Lymphomas

Lymphoma is a cancerous disease of the blood and lymph nodes. There are several kinds of lymphatic cancers depending on the line of infected cells.

To sum up, we classify these cancers into 2 groups:

Hodgkin's lymphoma,
Non-Hodgkin lymphomas.
The lymphatic system is a defense organ of the organism. It is composed of lymphatic vessels, lymph nodes, with inside the lymph cells circulating in the blood and lymph. Lymphoid organs such as thymus, spleen, liver, and bone marrow are also part of the lymphatic system (each of these organs plays a specific role in this immune system).

The disease is represented by the anarchic multiplication of lymphocytes in the lymph nodes. These are increased by volume, they are called adenopathies.

But lymphadenopathy does not necessarily mean cancer, far from it. Many diseases cause the onset of persistent adenopathies sometimes for several weeks, in particular bacterial, viral, parasitic infectious diseases. It is a means of defense of the organism very effective, the lymph nodes play – among other things – a filter role that prevents microbes from invading an organism.

Today's treatments are generally very effective and patients heal. It is nevertheless necessary to monitor them regularly to take charge of a possible relapse or the appearance of side effects to treatments. Relapses and resistance to treatment are also increasingly frequent. That is why research continues to work on new therapeutic pathways.

Lymphoma: Causes

The exact causes of the lymphomas are still unknown. However, researchers are highlighting the combination of factors, such as genetic and immunological heritage, with environmental causes.

How is a genetic disease transmitted?
There are more than 6 000 genetic diseases listed. What is a genetic disease and how can it be transmitted?

Several risk factors that could promote the occurrence of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma have been identified. Thus, some forms of non-Hodgkin lymphomas are more likely to develop in people infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) or Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). According to some studies, people exposed in a professional activity to chemicals such as pesticides, solvents or fertilizers are also more likely to develop lymphoma.

However, this cause is not formal! A direct link between the occurrence of the disease and these risk factors has still not been formally demonstrated.

On the other hand, it is established that lymphomas are more common in people suffering from a weakness of their immune system (i.e. a immunosuppression). This is the case for people suffering from AIDS, victims of immunodépressives congenital diseases, or people infected with certain infectious diseases, etc. Immunosuppressive therapies (e.g. those prescribed in the course of a transplant) may also be implicated in a immunosuppression, thus promoting the appearance of lymphoma.