What is cancer of the lymphatic tissue?

Cancer of the lymphatic tissue, also known as lymphatic cancer or lymphoma, is a cancer that starts in the lymphocytes, which are white blood cells that help fight infection. The lymphatic system is a network of vessels and nodes that carries lymph, a fluid that contains white blood cells, throughout the body.

There are two main types of lymphoma:

- Hodgkin lymphoma is named for Thomas Hodgkin, who first described it in 1832. This type of lymphoma is characterized by the presence of Reed-Sternberg cells.

- Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) refers to lymphomas that do not have Reed-Sternberg cells.

Most lymphomas are treated with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, or targeted therapy. Targeted therapy uses drugs to block specific molecules that promote tumour growth.

Other cancers of the lymphatic tissue include Waldenström macroglobulinemia, Burkitt lymphoma, and T-cell leukemia.