There are more than 70 different kinds of lymphoma, a cancer of the immune cells. As such, the path from diagnosis to the end of life can vary quite a bit. Hodgkin lymphoma is very curable, while some non-Hodgkin lymphomas are more difficult to treat.

Lymphomas are cancers of the white blood cells called lymphocytes, part of the body's immune system. In lymphoma, the lymphocytes morph into a cancer cell and accumulate in the lymph nodes and lymphatic system, where they crowd out normal lymphocytes.

The term lymphoma refers to cancer of the lymphoid system, which is a major component of the immune system. The body's lymphoid system is composed of several organs, including the spleen, thymus and lymph nodes, tiny organs found in the groin, armpit, neck and other areas throughout the body.

Spleen lymphoma, also called splenic marginal zone lymphoma, is a condition in which cancerous cells grow within the spleen, bone marrow and blood. This rare disease is a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that begins within the spleen.

Non-Hodgkins lymphoma develops from the rapid, out-of-control growth of cells of the immune system called lymphocytes. Non-Hodgkins lymphoma often begins in the lymph nodes, small organs of the immune system located throughout the body.