Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma may occur anywhere in the body. The disease may begin in the lymph nodes or in an organ such as the spleen. The disease may also spread to other parts of the body such as the liver or bone marrow. The lymphoma cells may replace the normal cells in bone marrow, which may cause bleeding problems or infections.

The body may eventually become less capable of producing blood cells able to carry oxygen to other tissues. The body may also become more prone to infection. There may be many different types of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, some more aggressive than others.

The exact cause of the disease may not be fully clear, but certain factors may increase the chance of developing the disease. The disease may be more common in men and people may be more likely to develop non-Hodgkin's lymphoma as they grow older. A weakened immune system, viral infections and exposure to pesticides, solvents and fertilizers may also increase the chances of developing the disease.

The most common symptoms of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma may be a swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck, underarm or groin. Still, other symptoms may include fever, night sweats, fatigue, weight loss, itchiness and reddened patches on the skin.

Treatment for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma may vary depending on the type of lymphoma, the stage the disease is in, the grade of the disease, the patient's age and their health. Some treatment options may include surveillance of the disease, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, monoclonal antibody therapy and stem cell transplant.

Some of these options may not be suitable treatments for certain types of lymphoma. A health care professional may be helpful in discussing possible treatments.

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