My Aunt diagnosed with Lymphoma

Sisters, Lillian and Ruby
January 2005
Now 87 & 90 years old

Yesterday, I traveled up to Schnecksville, Pa. (near Allentown) to see my Mother's sister, Lillian (87 yrs old), for whom I was named. She learned this week that she has lymphoma cancer. The glands on the right side of her neck are swollen. She will be undergoing further tests, we assume checking to see the extent of the cancer.

Copied from About.com:
There are two main types of lymphoma: Hodgkin's lymphoma and non Hodgkin's lymphoma. While both types of cancer develop in the same way, the single factor that distinguishes the two is a single type of cell - the Reed Sternberg cell. This cancerous cell type is found only in Hodgkin's Lymphoma and can be distinguished from other types of Lymphoma by the way it appears under a microscope.

Furthermore, Hodgkin's lymphoma and non Hodgkin's lymphoma grow and spread in different ways. If a lymphoma diagnosis is made and does not contain the Reed-Sternberg variant, the cancer can then only be Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Also called Hodgkin's disease, Hodgkin's lymphoma is cancer of the lymph tissue found in the lymph nodes, spleen, liver, and bone marrow.

Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma covers a far more broad range of cancer cells. There are about 30 different types of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. These types of lymphoma can be difficult to diagnose as there are so many types.