Statistics

Note: This is a small selection of material I have found in researching Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma and all my sources are cited at the bottom.

Statistics and notations, specifically causal or relational ones, for Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma are not lengthy or descriptive. The information scientist in me is not satisfied with this information, so I’ve been doing some digging.

According to Frederick Hagemeister, M.D., professor in the Department of Lymphoma and Myeloma, in MD Anderson’s Fall 2010 Network newsletter:

“We’re not yet sure, but we suspect that some forms of lymphoma may have a genetic disposition, not in terms of inheriting the disease, but perhaps in inheriting a type of immune deficiency, for example. Other possible causes include environmental factors, such as exposure to pesticides and herbicides, and certain viruses, although these causes are rare.”1

I already understand that in order for cancer to occur, you need just one mutated cell to duplicate and the domino effect lets loose.

My doctor and general collective cancer intelligence all say not to prioritize time in discovering what causes cancer. In my professional life, I enjoy finding out answers for patrons and customers. What would make my own situation any different?

Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma is a fairly common type of cancer in the United States. According to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma is the seventh most common type of cancer.

For patients with Hodgkins Lymphoma, the number of incidences in adults between the ages of 20-34 and those above the age of 65 are higher than for the adults between the ages of 35 and 64.

However, for patients with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma (like me), the rise of incidence appears almost exponential with age. From 2003-2007, for adults between the ages of 25 and 29, there were 330,000 cases of Non-Hogkins Lymphoma, which is a small percentage compared to the millions of cases for adults ages 75 and older. 2

According to MD Anderson:

“Over 66,000 adults and children will be diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma this year. Over 95% of those cases will be adults around 60 years of age. Men have a slightly higher risk than women, although the numbers of women being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma has recently been increasing. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is more common in whites than African Americans or Asian Americans.”3

Part of me looks as this information and thinks I must be in a very small percentage of incidences. I would be in the 5% of adults not around 60 years of age. I am female, though while the numbers are increasing, women tend to have a lower risk than males. I am technically 5/8 white, with the remainder of my ethnic background as Asian and Native American, populations that have a lower risk of developing Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma.

As an interesting family history side note, there are no known cases of cancer on my father’s side of the family. On my mother’s side of the family, there are incidences of cancer, but it’s not prevalent.

I refuse to blame something authentic or arbitrary as the reason I have cancer. However, if I have a genetic predisposition to getting cancer or have an immune system deficiency, I want to know how this will affect my future. If, in fact this was caused by environmental factors, what are they? Are there people like me who could use this information as prevention?

I know that much research exists in discovering the causes behind Lymphoma, especially Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. I know I won’t be able to add anything extraordinary to this research. For my own information curiosity, I’m collecting all the puzzle pieces in my own medical and personal history.

There is a small amount of paranoia I feel: will this come back after all the treatments are complete? If it is a genetic disposition, can I pass this onto my children (assuming I can even have children after all this)?

I can’t shake off the concept that my future has irrevocably been altered. However, I don’t want to look at it like a bad thing. I look at it as an opportunity to get more tools to keep living the life I want. I might or might not be a statistic, but I truly believe things happen for a reason. With all the sad and terrible things that happen in our daily lives, this seems like a futile belief. I think that sometimes you have to find the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel. Sometimes you have to make your own sunshine.

If you surround yourself with positive thoughts and wonderful people, what could go wrong?

1 MD Anderson Fall 2010 Focus on Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma
2 The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Facts 2010-2011
3 MD Anderson Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma Patient Information