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Difference Between Hodgkin's and Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
By Raveena M Prakash
Lymphoma is not just one disease, but it's a group of blood cancer diseases that affects the lymphatic system, with two main types including Hodgkin’s lymphoma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. While these two sound similar, they also share some common symptoms. However, these two differ significantly in how they develop, spread, and even respond to cancer treatment.
In this article, we’ll discover more about what makes them set apart in terms of treatments, survival rates, and why those differences matter!
Difference between Hodgkin’s lymphoma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Lymphoma is a type of cancer that begins in the white blood cells also known as lymphocytes. The lymphocytes are an important part of the body's immune system.
Both Hodgkin’s lymphoma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma are types of lymphoma. One of the main differences between Hodgkin’s lymphoma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma can be found in the cancer cells.
However, Hodgkin’s lymphoma contains specific cancer cells called Reed-sternberg cells. If the lymphoma does not contain Reed-Sternberg cells it is called non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. There are many subtypes of lymphoma and performing a lab test would help to determine the subtype of lymphoma.
Difference in types of lymphoma
- Hodgkin’s lymphoma: There are mainly four types of Hodgkin lymphoma. Some of the common forms include nodular sclerosis and mixed cellularity, and both of them together account for about 90% of cases.
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma: Studies suggest that there are more than 30 types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma and more subtypes. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is considered the most common type of lymphoma, which accounts for more than 30% of cases.
Are symptoms of Hodgkin’s lymphoma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma similar or different?
Symptoms of both types of lymphoma can be similar. However, the symptoms can be varied depending on the specific type of lymphoma the patient has and the extent of the cancer and its spread.
In some patients, they won’t experience any particular symptoms when diagnosed with this cancer. However, some people might experience life-threatening complications if the disease has started to spread to other body parts.
These symptoms may include:
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Sudden weight loss
- Night sweats
- Rashes or dry skin
Is treatments similar or different for Hodgkin’s lymphoma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Hogkin’s lymphoma treatment includes a combination of therapies such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy. These are considered as the standard treatment for early-stage Hodgkin’s lymphoma. However, patients with both Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma might require treatments such as stem cell transplants. When the diseases won’t respond to treatments like chemotherapy.
Chemotherapy is one of the common treatments used for Hodgkin’s lymphoma. There are several studies investigating the potential benefits of treatments, including immunotherapy and targeted therapy. An oncologist might also use surgery to obtain an accurate diagnosis of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. It's rare to cure non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with surgery.
The treatment for both types of cancer mainly depends on factors, including:
- Age
- Cancer stage
- Symptoms of cancer
- Health conditions of the patient
Treatment of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
The treatments may include:
- Chemotherapy
- Targeted therapy
- Immunotherapy
- Radiation therapy
- Chemotherapy with stem cell transplantation
Treatment of Hodgkin’s lymphoma
The treatments include:
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation therapy
- Immunotherapy
- Targeted therapy
- Chemotherapy with stem cell transplantation
Risk factors for developing Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Studies have shown that Men have approximately 1 out of 41 chances of developing non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in their lifetime, while women have an approximate 1 out of 52 chances.
The following are considered as the risk factors for developing both types of lymphoma. Including:
- Age: The average age of Hodgkin’s lymphoma diagnosis is 39. However, it is one of the common lymphomas in young adulthood or above the age of 55.
- Gender: Hodgkin lymphoma develops slightly more in men than women. The overall risk of developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma is higher than men, while some subtypes are more common in women.
- Family history of cancer: Brothers and sisters of a family with Hodgkin lymphoma have a risk of developing this disease.
- Weakened immune system: Patients with auto-immune diseases or people with weakened immune systems are at a high risk of developing both Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. People with HIV or autoimmune disease are also at high risk.
- Epstein- Barr virus: Patients with Epstein- Barr virus cause mononucleosis also known as mono. People with mono have an increased risk of developing Hodgkin lymphoma.
Other risk factors includes:
- Drugs addiction
- Radiation
- Breast implants
Survival rates of Hodgkin’s lymphoma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Hodgkin’s lymphoma is one of the most curable cancers. It has a better prognosis when compared to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. However, there are many factors that influence the survival rates of both.
These factors may include:
- Age and gender
- The stage and extent of cancer
- Individual health conditions
- Specific types of lymphoma
Here’s the 5-year survival rate changes with age for both types of lymphoma according to SEER Data.
Age | Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma | Hodgkin’s lymphoma |
|---|---|---|
Under 15 | 91.5% | 98.5% |
15-39 | 84.8% | 95.8% |
40-64 | 80.2% | 86.6% |
65-74 | 73.6% | 69.9% |
Over 75 | 56.6% | 52.7% |
It’s important to understand that these numbers are average survival rates based on the ages of patients, not the cancer stage and individual health factors. However, sometimes the survival rates can vary depending on some other factors; always consult with your doctor to get a clear understanding about your conditions.
Consult Today
Lymphoma is a group of cancers that develop in immune cells called lymphocytes. The two main groups of lymphomas are Hodgkin’s lymphoma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. One of the major differences comes with the presence of atypical cells, also referred to as Reed-Sternberg cells; these cells are only found in Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
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Frequently Asked Questions
There are more than 70 types of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, based on the type of lymphocyte is affected.
- B cell lymphoma: These types of cancers start from B cells.
- T cell lymphoma: These types of cancers arise from T cells.
The common symptoms may include:
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Fatigue
- Unexplained fever
- Night sweats
- Sudden weight loss
- Belly pain
People with weakened immune systems are more likely to develop Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Those with viral infection such as HIV and EBV are likely to develop Hodgkin lymphoma in a lifetime.
Hodgkin’s lymphoma is classified with the presence of Reed-Sternberg cells, whereas non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is categorized with no presence of the Reed-Sternberg cells in the body.