As recognized by the American Cancer Society, multiple risk factors have been identified for some lymphomas. These factors include:
Age – Increased age is a risk factor for many lymphomas, with lymphoma most commonly occurring in people over the age of 60.
Gender – Most lymphomas are more common in men than women.
Race, ethnicity, and geography – NHL is more common in developed countries and in the United States is more common among whites than other ethnic groups.
Family history – NHL is more common in those with a first-degree relative with NHL.
Exposure to certain chemicals and drugs – Some chemicals, such as benzene, herbicides, and insecticides are linked to increased risk of NHL. Some chemotherapy drugs and drugs used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA) increase the risk of NHL, though the latter is somewhat confounded by the intrinsic risk imparted by RA itself.
Radiation exposure – Survivors of atomic bombs or nuclear reactor accidents, as well as patients treated with radiation therapy for other cancers have an increased risk of developing NHL.
Immunocompromised state – The presence of immune deficiency syndromes, either as a primary disease state or secondary to immunosuppressive medications or HIV infection, increases the risk of developing NHL.
Autoimmune diseases – Some autoimmune diseases impart in increased risk of developing NHL as a result of overstimulation of the lymphocytes increasing the rate of division. These include RA, systemic lupus, and other autoimmune diseases.
Infections – Some infections, particularly HTLV, human herpes virus type 8 (HHV-8), and EBV can cause lymphocyte transformations that result in NHL. Other infectious organisms (Helicobacter pylori, hepatitis C virus, and others) cause chronic immune stimulation and can lead to the development of NHL.
Body weight and diet – People who are obese or eat diets high in certain types of foods are possibly at an increased risk of developing NHL.
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