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Leukemia & Lymphoma FAQ

  • Writer: Evergreen Chapter
    Evergreen Chapter
  • Jan 4, 2024
  • 5 min read

Tanish Patel, Debanshi Mishra, Ha Le


Credits: Shutterstock


Question 1: What’s the difference between leukemia and lymphoma?


Leukemia is a blood cancer that starts in the bone marrow, causing an overproduction of abnormal white blood cells. On the other hand, lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system, where abnormal lymphocytes grow and form tumors in lymph nodes, affecting the body's infection-fighting abilities.


Leukemia:

  • Blood cancer originates in bone marrow.

  • Rapid production of abnormal white blood cells, affecting their functionality.

  • These abnormal cells flood the bloodstream, hindering normal blood cell production.

  • Classified as acute or chronic, based on cell maturity and speed of progression.

Lymphoma:

  • Cancer in the lymphatic system (lymph nodes, spleen, bone marrow).

  • Develops from abnormal lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell.

  • Forms tumors in lymph nodes, disrupting the system's ability to fight infections.

  • Divided into Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphomas based on specific cell characteristics.


Note: Though both are blood cancers, their primary locations of impact differ - leukemia in the bloodstream and bone marrow, lymphoma in the lymphatic system's tissues.


Credits: Everyday Health


Question 2: What are the different types of leukemia?


There are 4 main types of leukemia.


Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)

  • Primarily affects lymphoid cells, commonly found in children. Rapid progression of immature white blood cells (lymphoblasts) prevents healthy cell production.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML)

  • Affects myeloid cells, occurring in both children and adults. Rapid growth of abnormal myeloid cells (blast cells) disrupts normal blood cell production.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)

  • Affects mature lymphocytes, commonly diagnosed in older adults. Slow-growing accumulation of abnormal lymphocytes weakens the immune system.

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML)

  • Affects myeloid cells, often diagnosed in adults. Characterized by the presence of the Philadelphia chromosome, causing uncontrolled growth of abnormal myeloid cells.


Leukemia types differ based on the specific blood cells affected and their rate of progression, impacting both children and adults differently. Treatment approaches vary depending on the leukemia type and individual factors.


Credits: Mario L. Marques-Piubelli, M.D. and Roberto N. Miranda, M.D.


3) What are the different types of lymphoma?


Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma


  • More common and happens more in older ages 

  • Is split into two categories: B-cell lymphomas and T-cell lymphomas. 

  • B-cell lymphomas are more common, and happen in about 80% of NHL patients

  • Some types of B-cell lymphomas include diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma, post-transplant lymphoma, marginal zone lymphoma, and Burkitt lymphoma.

  • T-cell lymphomas are more scarce. 

  • Examples of T-cell lymphomas are anaplastic large cell lymphoma, peripheral T cell lymphoma, hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma, and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (a rare form of lymphoma that affects the skin, so patients only really need topical ointments to be treated).

  • B and T-cell lymphomas have even more subtypes, classified based on characteristics of the disease like how fast it grows. 

  • For example, some types of lymphomas are aggressive and spread rapidly, and require immediate chemotherapy. Treatments like targeted treatments and immunotherapies can also be administered after chemotherapy. Other types of lymphomas are slow-growing or “indolent,” and patients can observe the disease for years without getting any treatment. 

Hodgkin Lymphoma


  • Much rarer than NHL, and happens in younger patients more frequently than in older ones

  • Diagnosed by the development of mutant cells called Reed-Sternberg cells.

  • Progresses through the body in a more predictable manner than NHL 

  • Classified into two categories: classical type and nodular lymphocyte predominant type.

  • Classical Hodkin lymphoma is much more common than the other subtypes.


Credits: Thinkstock


4) Is there a cure for leukemia and/or lymphoma?


Leukemia and lymphoma can be treated, and cured in some cases. It all depends on the type of leukemia or lymphoma. 


Lymphoma


Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

  • Different combinations of treatments can be used based on the type of NHL.

  • For example, in patients with a type of aggressive B-cell NHL, frequent chemotherapy with four or more drugs may be utilized. Although cures are not guaranteed, this treatment can be very effective, and cures have been accomplished in past cases. 


Hodgkin lymphoma 

  • Different treatments and combinations of treatments are used to cure different types of Hodgkin lymphoma, usually starting with chemotherapy and drug therapy. 

  • This can be effective in curing the disease, but if it recurs, then doctors may prescribe radiotherapy, stem cell transplants, or a clinical trial paired with more chemotherapy. 


Leukemia


  • The types of treatments and combinations of treatments administered to those with leukemia are determined by doctors based on the type of leukemia a patient has.

  • Treatments for different types of leukemia include chemotherapy, drug therapies, stem cell transplant, clinical trials, immunotherapy, and other types of therapies specific to certain types of leukemia. For example, patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) may undergo ph-positive ALL therapy. 

  • Although leukemia is not fully curable, patients can remain in remission (where there is no cancer detectable in the body) for long periods of time. 

  • Patients that are in this state are considered “cured,” but there isn’t a permanent foolproof cure for the cancer yet. In cases where patients are in remission for long periods of time, there is an extremely low chance of developing leukemia again, and in those with complete remission, there is no detectable microscopic trace of leukemia in the bone marrow. 


Credits: Mclaren


Question 5: What are the symptoms of leukemia and lymphoma? What does it feel like?


Common symptoms of leukemia include:

  • petechiae (red spots on the skin)

  • easy bleeding or bruising

  • bone pain/tenderness 


 Symptoms of lymphoma can include: 

  • swollen lymph nodes (in the neck or armpit)

  •  unexplained sweating at night

  • breathing problems/chest pain

  • rashes 


Some shared symptoms of both cancers include:

  • Weakness

  • Fever

  • Fatigues

  • Infections

  • Unexplained weight loss 


Note: If you or anyone you know is experiencing such symptoms, please ask your doctor for a complete blood count (CBC test) and/or lymph node or bone marrow biopsy. 


Credits: Getty Images


Question 6: How do we get leukemia or lymphoma?


Scientists have yet to discover the exact cause of leukemia and lymphoma, except that there is a mix of environmental and genetic factors that cause their development. However, there are certain demographics at higher risk than others of experiencing these cancers. 


For leukemia, some risk factors include:

  • Some genetic disorders (ex. Down Syndrome)

  • Human T-lymphotropic Virus (HTLV) 1* 

  • Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) 2*

  • Petrochemical exposure 3*

  • Previous cancer treatments

  • Smoking 

  • Family history of leukemia


Some risk factors for lymphoma include:

  • Age (some lymphomas are more prominent in either older or younger people)

  • Being male

  • Weakened immune system

  • Chemical exposure

  • Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) 4*

  • Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) 5*



1* a type of RNA virus in the blood that causes adult T-Cell (a type of white blood cell) leukemia

2* a type of virus that attacks CD4 T-cells (a white blood cell that helps protect the body from infection) in our immune system

3* chemicals that are obtained by processing and obtaining petroleum

4* one of the most common herpes virus in the world

5* a type of bacteria that causes inflammation in the stomach or small intestine




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“Lymph Nodes & Cancer.” American Cancer Society, August 2023.

“Lymphoma: Everything You Need to Know.”Reviewed by Aradhana Ghosh, M.D., September 2020, https://www.healthcentral.com/condition/lymphoma.

Mayo Clinic Staff “Leukemia.” Mayo Clinic, September 2022,

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Sauls, Ryan, et al. Histology, T-Cell Lymphocyte, National Library of Medicine, StatPearls

Publishing, May 2023, 

“The HIV Life Cycle.” National Institutes of Health, August 2021,

“Types of Leukemia.” Penn Medicine, https://www.pennmedicine.org/cancer/types-of-

“Types of Leukemia In Adults & Children.”Moffitt Cancer Center,

“Types of Lymphoma.” Siteman Cancer Center, https://siteman.wustl.edu/treatment/cancer-

“What Is Chronic Myeloid Leukemia?” American Cancer Society, June 2018,



 
 
 

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