What triggers lymphoma?
The cause of the initial mutation that triggers lymphoma is unknown. Some experts believe it could be due to a number of related causes. There are a number of known risk factors for developing lymphoma. These are outlined below. • Having a medical condition that affects your immune system – such as HIV, this is known as immunosuppression. • Having medical treatment that affects your immune system – such as taking immunosuppressant medication (these medicines are often given to people who have undergone an organ donation). • Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) – people who have previously been exposed to the EBV have a slightly higher chance of developing lymphoma. EBV is a common virus that causes glandular fever, although most people develop immunity to it. • Human T cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV) – people who have been previously exposed to the HTLV have a slightly higher chance of developing lymphoma. HLTV is quite rare in the UK, with only an average of 50 new cases occurring each year. • Che
