What is lymphoma?

Briefly, lymphomas result when DNA damage or changes occurs to an immune cell (a lymphocyte) that alters the behavior of the cells, leading to abnormal production of proteins that prevents the cells from dying when they should, or causes sustained rapid cell division that produces more of its kind. The malignant cells then may accumulate to form tumors that may enlarge the lymph nodes or spread to other areas of the lymphatic system, such as the spleen or bone marrow. Lymphoma can also spread or first appear outside the lymphatic system - so-called extranodal disease.