daughterdutiful

This tag is to raise awareness of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma in honor of my friend Lorrie who is braving battling this disease and is a beautiful and inspirational woman. As well as all those battling this cancer. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system and usually starts in lymphocytes (white blood cells) found in one or more lymph nodes. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma can occur at any age, but the incidence increases with age, especially after the age of 60. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma makes up 4% of new cancer cases each year, and there is a 1 in 45 lifetime chance of having this type of cancer. The exact cause isn't known, but doctors believe a virus or activation of abnormal genes may be involved in some cases. Some risk factors are thought to be: being aged 60 and above, autoimmune disease (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis), exposure to pesticides, chemical solvents, and dyes, exposure to some viral infections such as Epstein-Barr virus, immunodeficiency states such as AIDS, congenital immunodeficiency, or chronic immunosuppression by medications prior exposure to chemotherapy or radiation therapy People can have non-Hodgkin's lymphoma even without these risk factors. If you are battling this cancer or have a friend, family member, co-worker or anyone in your life please share your story, show your support by donating to Relay for Life/American Cancer Society. Do your part, help just one and with that one we can gather many and conquer this disease. This effort is in honor of Lorrie and the thousands like her that fight for their lives everyday. Thank you!