Most cancers are distinguished by where they originate, breast cancer, testicular cancer, and ovarian cancer to name a few. The terms Hodgkin’s lymphoma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma don’t give many clues as to where they originate. To help simplify the disease, you first need to understand what lymphoma means. Lymphoma is cancer that originates in the lymphatic system. This body system carries lymph, a clear fluid, that is a vital part of your immune system.
Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma may sound quite similar and do share a few similarities, but they actually have a lot of differences. In this article we analyze the following differences between these conditions…
What is Hodgkin’s Lymphoma?
Hodgkin’s lymphoma, previously known as Hodgkin’s disease, is a type of cancer that affects the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is a complex system of lymph nodes, vessels, organs, and tissues that carry lymph, a clear fluid. This system is a vital part of your immune system. “In Hodgkin’s lymphoma, cells in the lymphatic system grow abnormally and may spread beyond it,” says the Mayo Clinic.
There are two main types of Hodgkin’s lymphoma, classic and nodular lymphocyte-predominant reports the National Institute for Health. “Classic Hodgkin’s lymphoma is characterized by the presence of both Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg cells,” says the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Whereas, nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin’s lymphoma has lymphocyte-predominant cells, oftentimes called “popcorn cells.”