Prepared By: Roger Hakimian, MD, Foundation Hematology/Oncology

Lymphomas are a group of heterogeneous diseases, but before 1960, Hodgkin's disease (HL), non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), and leukemias were all uniformly fatal. HL and childhood leukemia were the first cancers discovered to be highly curable with the development of multiple agent chemotherapy and modern radiation therapy. Many of the strategies used to cure these two diseases have been successfully applied in improving the survival and cure rates of patients with NHL and adult leukemias.

NHL is the sixth most common cancer in men and the fifth most common cancer in women. It is also the ninth most common cause of cancer death in men and sixth most common cause of cancer death among women. Between the years 2003 and 2008, 120 patients at Southern New Hampshire Medical Center were diagnosed with lymphoma (101 NHL, 19HL). Mean age at diagnosis: 59 (12-88). Gender distribution: 62 men, 58 women. Because NHL is a more frequent and distinct disease, it is discussed in more detail in this site study, which reviews treatment options and prognosis for the two most frequent NHL: B-cell follicular lymphoma and diffuse large B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (DLBCL). NHL groups require different therapeutic strategies and carry different prognosis. Treatment is evolving and more people are being cured and/or living longer. Long term and careful follow-up of survivors is paramount as patients can still be at risk for relapse and delayed treatment complications.

NHL is sensitive to radiation and many chemotherapeutic drugs, and, in most stages, there is more than one effective treatment option. Disease stage is the most important determinant of treatment options and outcome. All patients, regardless of stage, can and should be treated with curative intent.

Download Dr. Hakimian's complete report here (.pdf)