Who get Hodgkin lymphoma?
Anyone can get this cancer. It affects people of all ages.

We don’t know what causes Hodgkin lymphoma. Researchers are currently looking at whether viruses may help to cause it.

Can the disease be prevented?
No. At the moment there is no evidence you can do anything to prevent it.

The symptoms
The most common one is a painless swelling in the neck or armpit.

Other symptoms include:

• sweating a lot, especially at night
• not feeling hungry
• unexplained weight loss
• fever a general itch all over the body
• pain when you drink alcohol (the pain occurs where the Hodgkin lymphoma is).

How does the disease spread?
Hodgkin lymphoma tends to spread through the lymphatic system. First it spreads to nearby lymph nodes, and then to nodes further away.

Later it can spread to the bone marrow and to body organs such as the liver.

If you are diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma you will have tests to find out what stage your lymphoma is at.