Hematologic Malignancies Program

Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Risk and Prevention

More than 95 percent of the cases occur in adults, but non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is one of the more common childhood cancers. The disease affects more men than women and more white Americans than African Americans or Asian Americans. The risk of developing the disease increases with age.

The only known preventable risk factor for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is infection with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, and other infections that weaken the immune system. People with HIV have an increased risk for developing certain types of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.


This page was last updated on: March 3, 2008.