Am I at risk for getting lymphoma?
Different risk factors can make both forms of lymphoma riskier. The majority of people diagnosed with lymphoma do not have a specific cause. Some individuals are known to be higher risk though.
Risk factors for lymphoma include:
- Immunodeficiency: This may be due to a poor immune system from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or AIDs, or taking an immunosuppressant medication after an organ transplant
- Autoimmune disease: Individuals with some autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and celiac disease have increased risk for lymphoma
- Age: Lymphoma is the most prevalent type of blood cancer in people over 60. Some forms are more common in children and infants
- Sex: Women are more likely to develop some particular types of lymphoma while other types occur and lymphoma symptoms in men
- Ethnicity: White people are more likely to develop some types of lymphoma than black people
- Infection: Persons that have had infections such as human T-cell leukaemia or lymphotropic virus (HTLV-1), hepatitis C, heliobacter pylori, or Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) are associated with an increased risk for lymphoma
- Chemical and radiation exposure: People who are exposed to chemicals in fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides are also at increased risk. Nuclear radiation can also cause an increase risks for developing Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
- Body weight: Obesity is found to be a connection to lymphoma as a possible risk factor
- Breast implants: These can cause anaplastic large cell lymphoma in the breast tissue
- Family history: If a sibling or parent is diagnosed with lymphoma then your risk for also developing it is higher
- Infectious mononucleosis: An EBV infection can cause mononucleosis increasing the risk for lymphoma
- Affluence: Individuals with a higher socioeconomic status and background have a greater risk for this type of cancer
1800 208 2000
