From Indranil Mallick, M.D.,
Your Guide to Lymphoma.
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About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by V.K. Gadi, MD

A.

The Non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) are a very common type of lymphoma. A lymphoma is a cancer of the lymph system. The lymph system is a very important organ system that protects our body from infections. To understand lymphomas and the lymph system better, read the article What is lymphoma?

Lymphomas are of two main types: Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL).

Believe it or not, the name Non-Hodgkin lymphoma literally means all those lymphomas which are not Hodgkin lymphomas.

Non-Hodgkin lymphomas are the more common type of lymphoma. Close to 60,000 individuals are affected by NHL every year in the United States, and the numbers may be rising.

NHL is not a single disease. In fact, it is a group of related lymph system cancers of more than twenty types. Though they are all cancers of lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell, they behave differently and may have different treatment options and outcomes.