In Hodgkin lymphoma, B-lymphocytes (a particular type of lymphocyte) start to multiply in an abnormal way and begin to collect in certain parts of the lymphatic​ ...SkiptomaincontentHomeHealthAtoZBacktoHealthAtoZOverview-HodgkinlymphomaContentsOverviewSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentComplicationsHodgkinlymphomaisanuncommoncancerthatdevelopsinthelymphaticsystem,whichisanetworkofvesselsandglandsspreadthroughoutyourbody.Thelymphaticsystemispartofyourimmunesystem.Clearfluidcalledlymphflowsthroughthelymphaticvesselsandcontainsinfection-fightingwhitebloodcells,knownaslymphocytes.InHodgkinlymphoma,B-lymphocytes(aparticulartypeoflymphocyte)starttomultiplyinanabnormalwayandbegintocollectincertainpartsofthelymphaticsystem,suchasthelymphnodes(glands).Theaffectedlymphocyteslosetheirinfection-fightingproperties,makingyoumorevulnerabletoinfection.ThemostcommonsymptomofHodgkinlymphomaisapainlessswellinginalymphnode,usuallyintheneck,armpitorgroin.ReadmoreaboutthesymptomsofHodgkinlymphoma.Information:CoronavirusadviceGetadviceaboutcoronavirusandcancer:Macmillan:CoronavirusguidanceforpeoplewithcancerCancerResearchUK:CoronavirusandcancerWhoisaffected?Hodgkinlymphoma candevelopatanyage,butitmostlyaffectsyoungadultsintheirearly20sandolderadultsovertheageof70.Slightlymorementhanwomenareaffected.Around2,100peoplearediagnosedwithHodgkinlymphomaintheUKeachyear.WhatcausesHodgkinlymphoma?TheexactcauseofHodgkinlymphomaisunknown.However,yourriskofdevelopingtheconditionisincreasedif:you haveamedicalconditionthatweakensyourimmunesystemyoutakeimmunosuppressantmedicationyou'vepreviouslybeenexposedto acommonviruscalledtheEpstein-Barrvirus – whichcausesglandularfeverYoualsohaveanincreasedriskofdevelopingHodgkinlymphomaifafirst-degreerelative(parent,siblingorchild)hashadthecondition.ReadmoreaboutthecausesofHodgkinlymphoma.HowHodgkinlymphomaisdiagnosedTheonlywaytoconfirmadiagnosisofHodgkinlymphomaisbycarryingoutabiopsy.Thisisaminorsurgicalprocedurewhere asampleofaffectedlymphnodetissueisremovedandstudi