• A risk factor is anything that increases a person’s chance of developing cancer.
• Although risk factors can influence the development of cancer, most do not directly cause cancer.
• The exact cause of lymphoma is unknown, but the following factors may raise a person’s risk of lymphoma:

1. 1. Age. Lymphomas can occur at all ages but non Hodgkin’s lymphomas are more common in the older population (over 50 years). Hodgkin’s lymphoma is most common in people between age 15 and 30.
   2. Gender. Men are slightly more likely to develop lymphoma than women overall, although the nodular sclerosis subtype of Hodgkin’s lymphoma is more common for women.
   3. Family history. Brothers and sisters of people with Hodgkin lymphoma have a higher chance of developing the disease (although the likelihood is still small).
   4. Virus exposure. People who are infected with certain viruses may be at increased risk for developing some types of lymphoma.
   5. Depressed immune function. People with depressed immune function such as those with HIV infection have increased risk of developing lymphoma.

Source: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/imagepages

Updated:: 04/04/2019 []