Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) originates in the cells of the lymphatic and immune systems, such as the blood cells known as lymphocytes and the lymph node tissues.¹ NHL accounts for approximately 4.3% of all cancer diagnoses and is the seventh most common cancer in men and the sixth most common cancer in women.^2,3 According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 81,560 individuals (45,630 males and 35,930 females, including both adults and children) will be diagnosed with NHL in the United States in 2021, and approximately 20,720 individuals (12,170 males and 8550 females) will die from the disease.^1-3 The survival rate for NHL has steadily improved over the past 2 decades, due to improvements in medical care, the development and approval of more effective therapies, and the advent of personalized medicine. How much do you know about NHL?

Although there are more than 60 subtypes of NHL, the disease is usually classified into 3 major groups: B-cell lymphoma, which accounts for approximately 90% of all cases; T-cell lymphoma, which accounts for approximately 10%; and natural killer-cell lymphoma, which accounts for <1%.³ With respect to prognosis, NHLs can be divided into 2 groups: indolent and aggressive. The disease can occur at any age and is one of the more common cancers among children, teens, and young adults. However, the risk for developing NHL increases with age, with more than 50% of individuals aged ≥65 years at the time of diagnosis.¹ Although the survival rate for patients with NHL varies depending on the subtype and stage of disease, the overall 5-year relative survival rate is approximately 73%.^1-3 Public awareness of NHL needs to remain a priority to increase survival rates and improve patient quality of life.