Lymphoma is a type of cancer that develops in the lymphatic system, the disease-fighting network of the body. The system includes the lymph nodes, spleen, bone marrow and thymus gland and in this condition the cells of the network called lymphocytes are affected and tend to change. Lymphoma occurs when the abnormal lymphatic cells outgrow the healthy infection-fighting (white) cells, and there are many causes associated with this type of cancer. Over time, there has been a lot of research conducted into the causes of the condition, and one stands out from the rest. Can lymphoma be caused by stress? If you would like to know the connection between the two, read on to find out.

There are many types of lymphoma and they are broadly classified into two types:

• Non-Hodgkin (common)
  Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is a common type of cancer that can affect lymphocytes in any part of the body and people aged 55 and above are more prone to this disease. It is a type of lymphoma that isn’t diagnosed at an early stage.
• Hodgkin
  Hodgkin lymphoma occurs in the upper parts of the body like chest, neck or armpits. It can be easily diagnosed at an early stage, which makes it a more treatable type of cancer.

While they’re two different types of cancers, the signs and symptoms of both are more or less the same. Here are some of the most common ones:

• Swollen lymph nodes around the armpit, neck, chest or groin
• Shortness of breath and cough
• Night sweats and fever
• Sudden weight loss
• Itchy skin
• Fatigue
• Stomach or joint pain

While the exact cause of lymphoma are still being researched, the risk factors of this disease, including stress, are among the following.

• Weak immune system due to stress and more
  Lack of sleep and prolonged stress contribute to having a weak immune system, which is a host for many types of illnesses and varied types of cancer. While stress that easily subsides isn’t directly associated with any illness, if it is prolonged, it can lead to a whole host of problems.
• Autoimmune disease
  Many autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, coeliac disease, HIV, and AIDS attack the immune system, promoting more uncontrollable growth of the abnormal white cells in the body.
• Family history
  A close relative like either of the parents or sibling with a history of lymphoma puts you at a high risk of the disease. Lymphoma can also reoccur, so if you have a past history of cancer, watch out for its recurrent signs.
• Gender
  Hodgkin lymphoma is more common among males, while females are prone to other types of lymphoma.
• Exposure to radiation or chemicals
  Exposure to radiation from chemotherapy or other treatments and certain agricultural chemicals from pesticides, fertilizers and herbicides are associated with lymphoma.

So while stress is a contributing factor to the development of lymphoma, it is not yet identified as a direct cause of cancer.