What is indolent non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma?
If you’ve just been diagnosed with indolent non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) you’ve probably had a lot of information from your doctors about what it is and what it involves. It’s often hard to take all this information in at first, and many people find it difficult to understand and deal with.
Here on Lymphoma Life, we’ll help you understand what indolent NHL is.
Indolent NHL is a slow-growing form of the disease that has a variety of different subtypes. It is likely to be with you for the rest of your life, but you’ll probably spend most of this time with few, or even no, symptoms. And, with the right treatment and support, you should be able to live relatively normally for a long time.
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a type of cancer that affects certain white blood cells
Lymphoma is a cancer of the blood
There are two main types of lymphoma: non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) and Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The diseases are different and Lymphoma Life only talks about NHL.
Cancer occurs when cells start growing uncontrollably
Your body is made up of cells. Most cells last a short time before dying and being replaced by new ones. Sometimes, this cycle stops working and the cells grow and multiply uncontrollably, and may not die off when they should. This is what happens in cancer.
White blood cells, which normally fight infection for you, are the cells that are affected by NHL
Blood contains two main types of cells:
- Red blood cells, which carry oxygen and give the blood its colour.
- White blood cells, which are part of your body’s natural defence system – known as the immune system – and are normally there to fight infection.
 |
There are many different types of white blood cell, which all have different roles to play in your immune system. |
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system
The lymphatic system is similar to your blood system
All blood flows though blood vessels (arteries and veins). White blood cells, including lymphocytes, also flow through a different network of vessels called the lymphatic system, which also transports fluid and nutrients around the body.
In non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, affected white blood cells (lymphocytes) collect and form swellings in the lymphatic system
In non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL), when lymphocytes start growing uncontrollably, they often collect in the vessels of the lymphatic system causing lumps or swellings known as lymphomas. This is one of the most common symptoms of NHL.
Find out more about the lymphatic system
The swellings caused by non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma can form almost anywhere
The swellings formed in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma are called lymphomas
In non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL), abnormal white blood cells tend to collect together to form swellings. These swellings are called lymphomas because the white blood cells that are affected by NHL are known as lymphocytes.
Swellings can form anywhere because the lymphatic system runs all though the body
Lymphomas are a type of tumour and, in non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, are often formed in lymph nodes, which are part of the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system runs all through the body, so lymphomas can form in any body organ. For example, it is common to find lymphomas in the liver or spleen. But they can form anywhere from the brain, to the stomach, to the bone marrow.
Find out more about the diagnosis and staging of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Indolent non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a slow-growing form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
There are several different subtypes of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL), and many of them fall into the overall category of indolent NHL
Some of the most common subtypes of indolent NHL are listed in the table. If you’re not sure if your lymphoma falls into the indolent category your healthcare team should be able to help you.
Indolent forms of NHLnon-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), grow slowly and are also known as low-grade NHL
Other types of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma grow more quickly and are known as aggressive or high-grade NHL.
How you are likely to feel and the kind of treatment you will get will differ depending on whether you have indolent or aggressive NHL. The common characteristics of indolent NHL are listed in the table.
Indolent non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is a chronic disease that usually needs long-term treatment
- Indolent non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) is unlikely to be completely cured, and is known as a chronic disease.
- Usually, people with indolent NHL have long periods of remission when they have no symptoms. During this time, your quality of life can be excellent and you can carry on almost as normal with only a few small changes.
- However, this remission is often followed by times when the symptoms return, known as relapse. Therefore, indolent NHL usually needs to be treated over the long term.
- It is important to remember that everyone’s experience of NHL is different. Lymphoma Life can give you a good idea of what most people experience, and you will find many patient stories here that you can read and compare. However, your experience of NHL will be individual to you and the best person to talk to about your situation is your own doctor or specialist nurse.
Common symptoms of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Painless swelling in the neck, armpit or groin
- Unexplained persistent or recurrent fevers
- Drenching night sweats
- Weight loss or tiredness
- Persistent itching all over the body
- Breathlessness or cough
The common symptoms mentioned above can often be put down to other causes, so non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) is sometimes not recognised straight away. Also, the abnormal white blood cells (cancerous lymphocytes) found in NHL can’t fight infections properly. So NHL patients can become ill more easily than normal.
Find out more about the symptoms of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
How did I get non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma?
It’s normal to think ‘Why me?’ when faced with a diagnosis like non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. But it is important to remember that nothing you have done caused you to develop the disease.