Lymphoma cancer is the cancer of the Lymph cells and lymph nodes, which is the most common type of blood cancers. Lymph cells are also called as lymphocytes, and are present along the blood vessels. Lymphocytes or the lymph cells are carried throughout the body through fluid, lymph. Lymphoma cancer occurs when the two types of lymphocytes: B cells and T cells multiply or grow abnormally. Seldom any significant cause, is understood for lymphoma cancer, but a few risk factors are identified to have association with the disease. These risk factors can explain how you get lymphoma cancer. Treatment of this type of cancer can be promising at the initial stage, while for metastasized cancer, radiation and chemotherapy can be best solutions.
Causes of Lymphoma
No causes are known for this cancer. Genetics may be a prominent cause for the disease, which causes abnormal cell growth in the lymph nodes. Following are some causes and risk factors related to lymphoma.
Genetics
As said earlier, genetics or mutation in the genes can be responsible for cancer. This mutation will not necessarily develop cancerous cells in the body, but certainly make a person more prone to develop cancer.
Carcinogens
Carcinogens are certain types of substances such as solvents, pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, and benzene can be responsible to damage the DNA and its ability to function normally. Hence, it can lead to lymphoma cancer.
Immune Suppressing Drugs
A person may be recommended to have certain immune suppressing drugs, after an organ replacement surgery. Suppressing the immune system is a high risk of suffering from lymphoma cancer.
Viral Infections
HPV (human papilloma virus) infection is closely associated risk factor for many types of cancers and lymphoma is one of them. Viral infections with a few viruses such as Epstein-Barr virus, human T-lymphocytic virus type 1 (HTLV-1), Hepatitis B or C virus, and HIV virus is also a risk factor for lymphoma cancer.
Bacterial Infection
A bacterium, with the name, Helicobacter pylori, is responsible for causing ulcers of stomach or gastritis. Such bacterial infections can also be risk factor to lymphoma.
Other Types of Cancers
Other types of cancers may also be related to triggering lymphoma cancer. Any person who has taken treatment for lymphoma earlier should also be alert for its recurrence.
Cancer of lymphocytes or white blood cells is called as lymphoma cancer and is a common type of blood cancer. Lymphoma cancer causes are not clearly understood, but the above given risk factors have been studied and confirmed to have association with this type of cancer. Avoiding such risk factors can be a preventive measure for this cancer.