Lymphoma
Illustration photo
Lymphoma is a collective diagnosis for more than 30 different types of cancer where the disease is located in the body's lymphatic system. Lymphoma consists of the main groups Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Subgroups of non-Hodgkin lymphoma include diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and mantle cell lymphoma.
The incidence of Hodgkin's lymphoma has been stable for the past 15 years and the prognosis is good, but older patients have considerably poorer survival than younger patients. The use of PET scans has most likely led to fewer patients in stage I and more patients in stage IV.
For most subtypes of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, the incidence has been stable over the past 15 years. Improved diagnostics, better chemotherapy regimens and use of antibodies (especially anti-CD20) have led to increased survival for all subgroups.
Risk factors
Medicines that are given, for example, after organ transplantation, weaken the immune system.
Hepatitis C, ininsections with viruses (Epstein Barr virus and HIV) and rare bacteria (Helicobacter pylori) may increase the risk of cancer.
There is an excess of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in patients with rare congenital diseases, such as arthritis and other autoimmune diseases.
Other factors that increase the risk of lymphoma are earlier lymphoma diagnosis, and in some cases the disease is related to inheritance.
Source: helsenorge.no
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New cases
A total of 702 men and 533 women contracted Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma in Norway in 2022. The number of cases per 100,000 is 24 for men and 17 for women.
Aging
The median age (both sexes) for non-Hodgkin lymphoma is 70 years and for Hodgkin lymphoma 41 years.
Survival
The figure shows survival for Hodgkin lymphoma by age group for both sexes. From figure 8.1-V in Cancer in Norway 2023.
Five-year relative survival for Hodgkin lymphoma is 90.7 percent for men and 88.4 percent for women. Older patients have significantly poorer survival than younger patients.
The figure shows survival for non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) by age group for both sexes. From figure 8.1-W in Cancer in Norway 2023
Five-year relative survival for non-Hodgkin lymphoma is 77.3 percent for men and 81.3 percent for women.
Improved diagnostics, better chemotherapy regimens and use of antibodies (especially anti-CD20) have led to increased survival for all subtypes of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Survivors with lymphoma
As of 12/31/2022, there are 3,250 people who have or have had Hodgkin's lymphoma and 11,824 who have or have had non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Number of deaths
In 2021, 10 men and 11 women died from Hodgkin's lymphoma, while 164 men and 126 women died from non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Development over time
Prevalence and survival of Hodgkin lymphoma in the period 2002-2022, from Fig. 3.1 in the Annual Report on Lymphoid Malignancies 2023
There is a relatively stable incidence during this period, i.e. the number of new cases of Hodgkin's lymphoma has been stable since 2002. Per 100,000 person-years (per 100,000 people per year), there are approximately 2.5 people diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma. Relative survival is stable to slightly increasing, and no major changes have been made in the treatment of this disease group since 2003.
The advisory board in the Norwegian Registry of Lymphoid Malignancies has set a goal that relative survival after five years for Hodgkin lymphoma as a whole should be 85 per cent or more. For 2022, this figure is 89.1 per cent and thus well within the target.
Prevalence and relative survival of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in the period 2002-2022, from Fig. 3.9 in the Annual Report on Lymphoid Malignancies 2023 (Norwegian only)
Here we see a positive trend where relative survival is increasing. This means that those patients who get non-Hodgkin lymphoma live longer after cancer diagnosis. It is likely that the correct treatment for the correct diagnostic group, due to improved diagnostics, has contributed to the positive survival rate.
The number of new cases of non-Hodgkin lymphoma has been increasing for many years, but in recent years it seems to be stabilizing. There are around 20 people out of 100,000 who are diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma each year.
National Registry of Lymphoid Malignancies
The Norwegian Lymphoid Malignant Registry was granted national status in 2013. The Cancer Registry of Norway is responsible for data processing and works together with the professional community to develop the registry. The purpose of the quality registry is to contribute to strengthening the quality of the health care provided to patients with lymphoma and blood cancer.
Read more about the Norwegian Lymphoid Malignant Registry
Example results from the Annual Report on Lymphoid Malignancies 2023.
(Norwegian only)
Steps you can take to reduce your risk of getting lymphoma
Avoid exposure to chemicals in the workplace, such as solvents, dyes and pesticides. These may increase the risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Avoid smoking and keep a healthy body weight. Obesity increases the risk of Hodgkin lymphoma.
Read about Lymphoma on kreftforeningen.no
Questions about cancer
The Cancer Registry of Norway is a research institution. Our professionals therefore do not answer questions about diagnosis, assessment, treatment and follow-up from patients or their relatives.
Questions about this should be directed to your own GP, treating institution or the Cancer Society Advisory Service tel: 21 49 49 21
Useful Links
Read about lymphoma on helsenorge.no
