What is Lymphoma?

Lymphoma is
A blood cancer effecting white blood cells and
Develops in the lymphatic system
What is blood made of?
Blood contains both blood cells and a liquid called plasma being made of roughly equal portions of each
Blood contains red blood cells (erythrocytes), white blood cells (leukocytes) and platelets which are a cell product and not actually cells themselves
Red blood cells are rich in a protein called haemoglobin that allows the transport of oxygen to the bodies’ tissues. This protein gives the cells their reddish appearance
Red blood cells lack a nucleus and circulate in the blood for around 100 days before being captured and destroyed by the spleen

Leukocytes (white blood cells) main function is to fight infection. Lymphoma effects 1 type of leukocyte

	Neutrophil	Eosinophil	Basophil
Granulocytes have granules present in their cytoplasm
	Swallow & destroy bacteria, often dying in the process	Attack parasites & swallow antibody coated cells	Secrete substances to induce inflammation

Monocytes		Largest white blood cells Move from the blood into tissues turning into Macophages Macophages swallow organisms & present them to the immune system

Lymphocytes (The cells that become cancerous causing lymphoma)		Account for 20-40% of normal white blood cells Also populate the lymphoid tissues & organs 10/9 Lymphocytes are produced each day Average adult has 10/12 total Lymphocytes Lymphocyte are smaller than other white blood cells, their nucleus is round & large in comparison to the cell

B CELLS	T CELLS	NK CELLS
Turn into antibody producing plasma cells after encountering their immune target. Release millions of antibodies that bind to an invading organism	Are like blind boxers. They move around the body feeling cells they come up against. When they detect their immune target they deliver a knockout blow killing the infected cell	"Natural" Killer Cells do not need to recognise a unique target before swinging into action. Deliver a knockout punch to a range of infections and tumours
* It is not possible using standard cell staining to determine under a microscope whether a lymphocyte is a B Cell, T Cell or NK Cell. Special Immunochemical stains are used by pathologists to determine this