The causes of lymphoma are not well known, but some factors seem to have a role in its development:
- Immunosuppressive therapy – immunosuppressive treatment can lead to deficiency of the immunological functions and the development of many types of cancer including lymphoma.
- Family history of lymphoma – if your parents had/ have lymphoma, you are more at risk to develop it.
- Toxic exposure – lymphoma can occur due to exposure to certain toxic chemicals such as dioxins, pesticides, benzene, and organic solvents.
- Virus – Epstein-Barr virus may play a role in the occurrence of malignant lymphoma. Its role in cancer development has been established for the first time in Africa. Epstein-Barr virus is also incriminated in cancer of the nasopharynx (nasopharyngeal cancer).
- HIV / AIDS – the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) may also facilitate the occurrence of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. In addition, the following viruses can also be involved in the occurrence of the disease:
- a) hepatitis C virus (HCV)
- b)helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)
- c)human herpesvirus 6 and Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV 6 and HHV 8)
- d)Helicobacter pylori Human T lymphoma/leukemia virus (HTLV-1).
- Immunodeficiency – certain immune disorders are able to cause hyperplasia of your bone marrow and in a number of cases, give rise to a lymphoid tumor. Some of those diseases include:
- a)lupus
- b)sarcoidosis
- c)Celiac disease
- d)Sjögren’s Syndrome
- e)hashimoto thyroiditis
- f)rheumatoid arthritis
- g)