lymphoma causes | Risk factors for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Risk factors for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma


A risk factor is something, such as a behavior, a substance or a condition, that increases the risk of the onset of cancer. Most cancers are attributable to many risk factors, but sometimes non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) develops in individuals who do not have any of the risk factors described below.

The risk of NHL increases with age. The NHL is more common among older people in their sixties or more. In general, the NHL is more likely to reach men than women, but some specific types of NHL are more common in women.

The following are risk factors for the NHL. Most known and possible risk factors are not modifiable. That means you can't change them. Until we know more about these risk factors, there is no specific way to reduce your risk.

Risk factors are usually classified from the most important to the least important. But in most cases it is impossible to classify them with absolute certainty.

Known risk factors potential risk factors
Weakened immune system
Auto-Immune disorders
Some infections
Treatment already administered
Exposure to Lindane
Family history of NHL
Pesticide exposure
Exposure to Trichloroethylene
Power
Obesity
Hair dye
Professional Exhibitions
Known risk factors
Convincing evidence that the following factors increase your risk of NHL.

Weakened immune system
A person with weakened immune systems is more likely to be affected by an NHL. When you were born, it is possible that your immune system was already damaged, so-called congenital immune deficiency. It may also have been damaged during your life, so-called acquired immune deficiency. The moment your immune system has been damaged does not change your risk of being hit by an NHL.

The following factors can weaken your immune system.

Immunosuppressive drugs
Immunosuppressive medications affect the immune system so that it does not react as it normally would. These medications are administered after an organ transplant so that the immune system of the person receiving them does not attack the grafted organ.

The person who takes immunosuppressive drugs after a full organ transplant, such as a kidney, heart or liver, is more likely to be affected by an NHL. A person who takes these medications for another condition such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus or inflammatory bowel disease is also more likely to be affected by an NHL. But its risk is lower than that of the person who takes immunosuppressive drugs after an organ transplant.

HIV and AIDS
HIV and AIDS weaken the immune system. A person who carries HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) or AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) is more likely to be affected by certain types of NHL. There are fewer lymphomas that are related to AIDS or HIV infection because medications are being developed to treat them.

Immunodeficiency disorders
Immunodeficiency disorder affects the natural ability of the immune system to defend against infection. The person suffering from an immunodeficiency disorder often has infections that can be severe or unusual. It is also more likely to be affected by certain types of cancer.

You can present an immunodeficiency disorder at birth. This type of disorder is usually hereditary, which means it is passed from parents to children. The immunodeficiency disorder can also occur during your life. They say it's acquired. It can be caused by another disorder or treatment that inhibits the immune system. Hereditary immunodeficiency disorders are very rare, but those that are acquired are a little more frequent.

The way the NHL develops depends on the specific disorder and the part of the immune system it affects. The following immunodeficiency disorders increase the risk of being hit by an NHL.

Ataxia-Telangiectasia (AT) is a rare hereditary disorder. It causes anomalies in the part of the brain called cerebellum, which causes muscular coordination problems called Ataxia. The person with AT has experiences nervous system disorders that will gradually worsen over time. The TA also increases the volume of small blood vessels (dilation of capillaries or telangiectasia) or appears in spider veins, especially in the eyes and ears.

Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (SWA) is a rare hereditary disorder. It usually reaches only the boys. Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome reduces the number of platelets (thrombocytopenia), causing bleeding disorders. It also produces infections of the respiratory system and a skin condition called eczema.

The variable-expression Hypogammaglobulinemia is an acquired disorder. It can promote the emergence of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. It can also cause digestive tract disorders and repeated lung infections.

The severe combined immune deficiency (DICS) is a very rare hereditary immunodeficiency disorder, and this is the most serious. It causes yeast infections in the mouth also called thrush, diarrhea and pneumonia in infants and young children.

Lymphoproliferative syndrome linked to the X chromosome is a very rare hereditary disorder. Children with this disorder have very severe infectious mononucleosis due to Epstein-Barr virus infection. Liver failure, spinal cord failure and other conditions may occur later.

Auto-Immune disorders

Auto-immune disorder appears when the immune system attacks body tissues. Some of these disorders have been linked to a higher risk of NHL. But only a small number of NHL cases are related to auto-immune disorders. Individuals with an autoimmune disorder can be treated with immunosuppressive drugs, which may also contribute to an increase in NHL risk.

The following auto-immune disorders are related to the NHL.

The syndrome is a chronic disease that damages the salivary glands and the lacrimal glands, which makes the mouth very dry and the eyes dry. It can affect other organs and parts of the body, including joints, muscles, nerves, lungs, kidneys, liver, pancreas, stomach, brain and thyroid gland. This syndrome is related to the lymphomas of the marginal zone that appear in the salivary glands or other sites, such as the stomach or lung. It is also associated with large B-cell diffuse lymphoma.

Rheumatoid arthritis causes inflammation of the joints accompanied by pain and stiffness. It can also cause inflammation of other organs, including the eyes, lungs and heart. Rheumatoid arthritis is associated with large B-cell diffuse lymphoma and lymphoplasmocytaire lymphoma.

Disseminated lupus erythematosus (SLE, or lupus) can cause inflammation of the skin, joints, blood vessels and the nervous system of different parts of the body. It can also affect internal organs like the heart, lungs and kidneys. The LED is linked to large B-cell diffuse lymphoma.

Celiac disease damages the small intestine so as to impair the normal absorption of nutrients from food. People with this disease have an immune response to gluten, a protein present in wheat, rye and barley. Celiac disease is linked to an increase in the risk of the occurrence of a rare type of T-lymphoma called T-lymphoma associated with a enteropathy (LTAE).

Hashimoto's thyroid is an autoimmune disease that affects the thyroid gland and reduces the function of this gland (hypothyroidism). The symptoms of Hashimoto's thyroid include fatigue, mild pain, constipation, dryness of the skin and depression. It leads to an increase in the risk of primary thyroid lymphoma.

Some infections

Viral and bacterial infections that follow can increase the risk of NHL. They can damage lymphocytes or constantly stimulate the immune system so that it doesn't work properly.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a type of herpes virus that causes infectious mononucleosis also called mono or kissing disease. EBV is linked to Burkitt lymphoma and lymphomas that reach people whose immune system is weakened by HIV or AIDS or immunosuppressive drugs. EBV is also related to certain other types of cancer. This virus and Burkitt lymphoma are most common in Africa.

Human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) increases the risk of developing adult T-cell lymphoma/leukemia. It is more common in southern Japan and the Caribbean.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a type of bacterium that causes stomach ulcers and inflammation of the lining of the stomach called gastritis. It is related to gastric lymphomas, in particular to a type of lymphoma that affects the stomach and is called lymphoma of lymphoid tissue associated with the mucous membranes, or MALT lymphoma. The bacterium H. pylori also increases the risk of stomach cancer.

Herpes-Virus related to Kaposi sarcoma (HVSK) is also called herpes-human virus 8 (HHV-8). It has a link to Serous's primary lymphoma, body cavity lymphoma, and AIDS-related lymphoma.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) Form 2 groups of viruses that can cause inflammation of the liver called hepatitis. Individuals with HCV or HBV infection are more likely to be affected by certain types of NHL.

Campylobacter Jejuni (C. Jejuni) is a type of bacterium that can cause gastro-intestinal (GI) infections. It is related to a type of lymphoma called lymphoid tissue lymphoma associated with mucous membranes, or MALT lymphoma.

Treatment already administered

People who have received chemotherapy, with or without radiotherapy, to treat another type of cancer are more likely to be affected by an NHL. This is especially true for those that have been treated for Hodgkin's lymphoma. But the benefits of cancer treatment usually outweigh the risk of developing secondary cancer.

The risk of an NHL is higher in the first 5 years after treatment. But people who have been treated for cancer are more likely to be affected by an NHL for the rest of their lives.

Exposure to Lindane

Studies have shown that exposure to lindane increases the risk of NHL. Lindane is an over-the-counter drug used to treat lice and human sarcoptic scabies.

Possible risk factors

There has been some linkage between the following factors and the NHL, but there is not enough evidence to say that they are known risk factors. More research needs to be done to clarify the role of these factors in the development of the NHL.

Family history of NHL

NHL is not generally considered a family disease, that is, it appears in families more often than is expected by chance. However, some studies have shown a higher risk of NHL in people with a first-degree parent (father, mother, brother or sister, child) diagnosed with lymphoma. Studies must be continued to establish the risk of NHL occurrence in a person with a first-degree parent who has been affected.

Pesticide exposure

Pesticides include a large number of different chemicals, some of which may be associated with NHL risk. According to some studies, exposure to certain pesticides, such as Agent Orange and Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), may be linked to an increase in NHL risk. Since the data are not consistent, further research is needed to help clarify the possible link between pesticides and cancer and to identify which of these increases the risk of NHL.

Exposure to Trichloroethylene

Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a solvent used primarily to remove grease from metals. Some studies suggest that exposure to TCE may increase the risk of NHL.

Power

The link between the NHL and the food is very complex. Researchers are trying to find out if food can increase the risk. Some studies suggest that a diet rich in meat, dairy products and saturated fats could increase the risk of NHL. Other studies have shown that a low-vegetable diet increases the risk of NHL.

Obesity

Some studies suggest that obesity may increase the risk of NHL, particularly large B-cell lymphoma.

Hair dye

Studies have shown an increase in NHL risk in people using hair dyes before 1980. The chemical composition of the current dyes is different from that of the products used before 1980, some of the harmful components having been removed since. The risk affects people who use permanent dyes, especially dark colours. This risk may also be higher for hairdressers and barbers who were exposed to hair dye at work.

Professional Exhibitions

A number of studies suggest that some jobs create a higher risk of NHL. The industries affected include agriculture, rubber, wood and forestry, printing and welding. The researchers did not identify any specific exposures to explain this risk. We need to do more research.

Unknown Risk Factors

It is not yet determined whether exposure to ionizing radiation is related to the NHL. This may be because the researchers are not able to definitively establish this link or that the studies have produced different results. Further studies should be conducted to determine whether ionizing radiation is an NHL risk factor.

People who survived a nuclear or atomic bomb accident during the Second World War were exposed to a large amount of ionizing radiation. People who are treated by radiation are exposed to a smaller amount of ionizing radiation. Medical imaging, like radiography, also uses very small doses of ionizing radiation.

Questions to ask your healthcare team

To make the right decisions for you, ask questions about the risks to your healthcare team.