Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDefinitionsSymptomsCell TypesFrequency of DiagnosisAge at DiagnosisPrognosis
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Definitions
Symptoms
Cell Types
Frequency of Diagnosis
Age at Diagnosis
Prognosis
Leukemiasandlymphomasare often grouped together because they are both blood-related cancers. However, there are differences between the two based on where cancer begins and the features that make them separate conditions.
This article explains leukemia and lymphoma symptoms and similarities, as well as their differences. It offers information on how often these cancers occur, who is most at risk, and how improved treatments have changed the outlook for people with some types of blood cancer.
Verywell / Jessica Olah
Leukemia and lymphoma conditions can seem confusing, in part, because researchers, as well as clinicians who treat people with blood cancers, know much more about the diseases than when they were first identified in the 1800s.
What Is Leukemia?
Leukemiais defined as a progressive, malignant (spreading) cancer that affects the blood-forming organs, of which there are several involved.The cancer changes the growth and development of leukocytes (white blood cells), and the stem cells from which they develop.
Among these organs are:
All of these tissues play a vital role in the development and maturation of the lymphocytes, with some differences between B lymphocytes (B cells) and T lymphocytes (T cells). Special tissues in these organs are important for the maturation ofmonocytes, a specific type of white blood cell.
A Look at Hematopoiesis
What Is Lymphoma?
Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphoid tissue, which includes both cells and organs. It affects the same organs of the lymphatic system (thymus, bone marrow, lymph nodes, spleen).
But it also can affect other lymphoid tissue organs important to the immune system, including:
Lymphoma also affects white blood cells, with lymphocytes being the most common cell type found in lymphoid tissue.
Two Key Factors
One key factor in diagnosis involves whether high numbers of white blood cells are circulating in the bloodstream. This excess of white blood cells in the peripheral bloodstream is more typical of leukemia.
Early involvement of the bone marrow also is more typical of leukemia.
Primary Extranodal LymphomaSometimes, lymphoma can first develop outside of the typical lymph node sites. Theseprimary extranodal lymphomascan arise from the organs where lymphoid tissue is found, such as the spleen, as well as in the thyroid gland, salivary glands, tissue around the eyes, and other sites. This is more common with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Primary Extranodal Lymphoma
Sometimes, lymphoma can first develop outside of the typical lymph node sites. Theseprimary extranodal lymphomascan arise from the organs where lymphoid tissue is found, such as the spleen, as well as in the thyroid gland, salivary glands, tissue around the eyes, and other sites. This is more common with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Understanding the Immune System
Symptoms of Leukemia vs. Lymphoma
Leukemia and lymphoma symptoms will sometimes overlap or may not even be specific to either disease. As a result, these cancers aren’t diagnosed on the basis of symptoms alone.
There are, however, characteristic symptoms that may point toward a diagnosis of one disease or the other.
Sometimes a symptom or characteristic of leukemia is more common in one type of lymphoma than in some leukemias, and vice versa.
Lymphoma Symptoms
Symptoms of lymphoma vary and may includepainless swelling of lymph nodes. These lymph nodes may be visible at sites in your body where lymph nodes are located, including:
The swelling also may be seen on imaging studies at sites like themediastinumin your chest, or inretroperitonealnodes, towards your back behind the abdominal ogans.Other symptoms may include:
Lymphoma Symptoms: What to Look Out For
Leukemia Symptoms
The most common types of leukemia can produce symptoms such as bone and joint pain. Other symptoms can include:
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People with lymphomas may have symptoms referred to as B symptoms, which often indicate a more aggressive or faster-growing cancer.
B symptoms of lymphomainclude fevers, unintentional weight loss, and drenching night sweats.
Types of Lymphoma and Leukemia
Types of Leukemia
There are four basic types of leukemia.Two of these types are described asmyeloid, meaning they are related to the bone marrow where the body produces white blood cells.
These myeloid leukemias are called:
The word myeloid also refers to a group of cells that differentiate, or mature from, a commonmyeloid progenitor celltype. The myeloid term also includes these blood-forming tissues.
The two remaininglymphocyticleukemia types are called:
These lymphocytic leukemias arise from cells that are part of lymphoid tissues but are technically not lymphomas. That’s because theystart out in the bone marrow and later migrate, or move, to the lymphoid tissue.
The most common types of leukemia among adults aged 20 and older are CLL (38%) and AML (31%). The most common types among children and adolescents are ALL (75%) and AML (17%).
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia vs. Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Types of Lymphoma
Lymphomas are diagnosed as one of two basic types. These types of lymphoma are Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).
Some blood cancers have features that are characteristic of both leukemia and lymphoma. But generally, the lymphoma cells do not appear in the blood circulating in your body. Though they also arise from white blood cells or their precursors, they aren’t defined as leukemias.
Differences in Incidence
There are differences between leukemias and lymphomas in their incidence or how often they occur. Overall, more people in the United States develop lymphomas than leukemias.
The American Cancer Society expects that roughly 89,010 people will be diagnosed with lymphoma in 2022: 80,470 with NHL and 8,540 with HL.
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most commonly diagnosed leukemia in the U.S.
Differences in Age at Diagnosis
Though leukemia is the most common childhood cancer, accounting for about 28% of all cancers in children, it is most frequently diagnosed among adults aged 65 to 74.
By comparison, lymphomas make up only 10% of childhood cancers. Many lymphomas are more common in people over the age of 55.
There is overlap, however. Some chronic leukemias are much more common in older people, whereas HL has its first peak in incidence between the ages of 15 and 40.
Lymphoma Facts and Statistics: What You Need to Know
Treatment and Outlook
With respect to leukemia and lymphoma treatment, there is a significant difference between blood-related cancers and the breast, lung, and other cancers that arise from solid tumors.
In general, treatments that may increase life expectancy have progressed further for those with advanced leukemias and lymphomas than for those with advanced solid tumors.
The targeted therapy Gleevec (imatinib), for example, has changed CML from being an almost universally fatal disease to a condition often managed as a chronic disease. ALL was at one time usually rapidly fatal, yet around 90% of children with this disease can now be cured.
Life expectancywith Hodgkin lymphoma has improved dramatically as well. This disease, which had a 5-year survival rate of just 10% for people living with the diagnosis a century ago, now has a 5-year survival rate of over 90% inearly stageand well over 50% for stage 4 disease.
In contrast, many stage 4 solid tumors, such as breast cancer, lung cancer, and pancreatic cancer, are not curable and are almost always fatal over time. That said, some approaches to treatment, such as targeted therapies and immunotherapyoffer hope that those with solid tumors will eventually experience the advances in treatment that many with blood-related cancers now realize.
Summary
Both leukemias and lymphomas are considered “blood-related” cancers. They involve cells that play an important role in immune function. There are general differences between the two cancer types but there also are similarities in the pathways in the body from which they arise.
Leukemias are cancers that affect organs involved in producing blood, including the bone marrow, spleen, and thymus. They affect white blood cells that grow and migrate to these organs in the body. Lymphomas affect cells and tissue of the same organs, but also others including the tonsils.
Lymphoma and leukemia symptoms can be similar though lymphomas occur more often. It’s important to get an accurate diagnosis, so see your healthcare provider about your symptoms.
A Word From Verywell
Advances in treatment options for leukemia and lymphoma mean that blood cancers one thought fatal, such as ALL in children, are now survived in a majority of cases. The diagnosis for you or your child may seem overwhelming but your healthcare team can help you to better understand the outlook and help to connect you with support resources.
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Society of Hematology.Blood cancers.American Society of Hematology.Lymphoma.Bhattacharya B, Choudhury K, Chattopadhyay B, Mitra D.Primary extranodal non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma: A retrospective analysis of its clinicopathological features and treatment outcomes in a tertiary cancer center of eastern India.Clin Cancer Investig J.2013;2:218-22. doi:10.4103/2278-0513.119269American Society of Hematology.Leukemia.Kaplan JA.Leukemia in Children.Pediatr Rev. 2019 Jul;40(7):319-331. doi:10.1542/pir.2018-0192.Siegel RL, Miller KD, Fuchs HE, Jemal A.Cancer statistics, 2022.CA Cancer J Clin. 2022;72(1):7-33. doi:10.3322/caac.21708Hallek M.Chronic lymphocytic leukemia: 2020 update on diagnosis, risk stratification and treatment.Am J Hematol. 2019 Nov;94(11):1266-1287. doi:10.1002/ajh.25595.National Cancer Institute.Childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia treatment (PDQ) – health professional version.National Cancer Institute.Adult Hodgkin lymphoma treatment (PDQ)—health professional version.Additional ReadingNational Cancer Institute.Adult non-Hodgkin lymphoma treatment (PDQ)—health professional version.
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Society of Hematology.Blood cancers.American Society of Hematology.Lymphoma.Bhattacharya B, Choudhury K, Chattopadhyay B, Mitra D.Primary extranodal non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma: A retrospective analysis of its clinicopathological features and treatment outcomes in a tertiary cancer center of eastern India.Clin Cancer Investig J.2013;2:218-22. doi:10.4103/2278-0513.119269American Society of Hematology.Leukemia.Kaplan JA.Leukemia in Children.Pediatr Rev. 2019 Jul;40(7):319-331. doi:10.1542/pir.2018-0192.Siegel RL, Miller KD, Fuchs HE, Jemal A.Cancer statistics, 2022.CA Cancer J Clin. 2022;72(1):7-33. doi:10.3322/caac.21708Hallek M.Chronic lymphocytic leukemia: 2020 update on diagnosis, risk stratification and treatment.Am J Hematol. 2019 Nov;94(11):1266-1287. doi:10.1002/ajh.25595.National Cancer Institute.Childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia treatment (PDQ) – health professional version.National Cancer Institute.Adult Hodgkin lymphoma treatment (PDQ)—health professional version.Additional ReadingNational Cancer Institute.Adult non-Hodgkin lymphoma treatment (PDQ)—health professional version.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Society of Hematology.Blood cancers.American Society of Hematology.Lymphoma.Bhattacharya B, Choudhury K, Chattopadhyay B, Mitra D.Primary extranodal non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma: A retrospective analysis of its clinicopathological features and treatment outcomes in a tertiary cancer center of eastern India.Clin Cancer Investig J.2013;2:218-22. doi:10.4103/2278-0513.119269American Society of Hematology.Leukemia.Kaplan JA.Leukemia in Children.Pediatr Rev. 2019 Jul;40(7):319-331. doi:10.1542/pir.2018-0192.Siegel RL, Miller KD, Fuchs HE, Jemal A.Cancer statistics, 2022.CA Cancer J Clin. 2022;72(1):7-33. doi:10.3322/caac.21708Hallek M.Chronic lymphocytic leukemia: 2020 update on diagnosis, risk stratification and treatment.Am J Hematol. 2019 Nov;94(11):1266-1287. doi:10.1002/ajh.25595.National Cancer Institute.Childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia treatment (PDQ) – health professional version.National Cancer Institute.Adult Hodgkin lymphoma treatment (PDQ)—health professional version.
American Society of Hematology.Blood cancers.
American Society of Hematology.Lymphoma.
Bhattacharya B, Choudhury K, Chattopadhyay B, Mitra D.Primary extranodal non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma: A retrospective analysis of its clinicopathological features and treatment outcomes in a tertiary cancer center of eastern India.Clin Cancer Investig J.2013;2:218-22. doi:10.4103/2278-0513.119269
American Society of Hematology.Leukemia.
Kaplan JA.Leukemia in Children.Pediatr Rev. 2019 Jul;40(7):319-331. doi:10.1542/pir.2018-0192.
Siegel RL, Miller KD, Fuchs HE, Jemal A.Cancer statistics, 2022.CA Cancer J Clin. 2022;72(1):7-33. doi:10.3322/caac.21708
Hallek M.Chronic lymphocytic leukemia: 2020 update on diagnosis, risk stratification and treatment.Am J Hematol. 2019 Nov;94(11):1266-1287. doi:10.1002/ajh.25595.
National Cancer Institute.Childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia treatment (PDQ) – health professional version.
National Cancer Institute.Adult Hodgkin lymphoma treatment (PDQ)—health professional version.
National Cancer Institute.Adult non-Hodgkin lymphoma treatment (PDQ)—health professional version.
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