Hodgkin lymphoma
Anything that can increase your risk of getting a disease is called a risk factor.
Different cancers have different risk factors. Having one or more of these risk factors doesn't mean you will get Hodgkin lymphoma.
As Hodgkin lymphoma is not common, the risk of developing it is small even if you have one of these risk factors.
Hodgkin lymphoma is slightly more common in males than females in the UK.
It can happen at any age. In the UK it is more common between the ages of 20 and 24 and between 75 and 79 years old.
You may be more likely to develop Hodgkin lymphoma if your isn't working properly. The immune system fights diseases. You may have low immunity if you:
have a rare condition caused by the immune system (an ), such as Sjögren’s syndrome or sarcoidosis
develop an autoimmune condition, such as rheumatoid arthritis or systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus)
have HIV (human immuno deficiency virus) or AIDS (acquired immuno deficiency syndrome)
People with HIV are 11 times more likely to develop Hodgkin lymphoma than the general population. And people with AIDS are nearly 3 times more likely to develop Hodgkin lymphoma than the general population.
We don't know why there is a higher risk for people with autoimmune diseases.
Having an autoimmune disease does not mean you will definitely get Hodgkin lymphoma.
People who have had (NHL) in the past have a slight increased risk of developing Hodgkin lymphoma. This may be due to the treatment they had for NHL.
Find out more about non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Epstein Barr virus (EBV) is the virus that causes glandular fever (infectious mononucleosis). Glandular fever is not usually a serious illness, although it can make people feel very unwell and may last a long time. People who have had glandular fever may have an increased risk of developing Hodgkin lymphoma.
It's estimated that around 40 out of 100 cases (around 40%) of Hodgkin lymphoma in the UK are related to EBV infection.
But it’s important to remember that most people who have had Epstein Barr virus or glandular fever will not develop cancer as a result.
You may have an increased risk of getting Hodgkin lymphoma if you have a parent, child, sister, or brother who has had one of the following:
Hodgkin lymphoma
non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL)
chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL)
We don't know whether this increase in risk is due to inherited gene changes or shared lifestyle factors.
However this risk is very small. Most people with Hodgkin lymphoma don’t have a family member who has had lymphoma or another blood cancer.
Some research has suggested that people who are obese (overweight) may have an increased risk of developing Hodgkin lymphoma. But most people do not develop Hodgkin lymphoma because they are overweight.
It’s important to keep a healthy weight as this can lower the risk of many health conditions. These include diabetes, heart disease and some types of cancer. If you need to lose weight, there is information and support available.
We have 10 top tips to help you lose weight healthily
Some studies have suggested an increased risk of Hodgkin lymphoma in people who smoke.
If you smoke, stopping is the best thing you can do for your health and to reduce your cancer risk.
Get tips to help you stop smoking for good
Stories about potential causes are often in the media and it isn’t always clear which ideas are supported by evidence. There might be things you have heard of that we haven’t included here. This is because either there is no evidence about them or it is less clear.
Find out more about possible causes and cancer controversies
Not all cancers can be prevented but there are things you can do to reduce your general risk of developing cancer.
These include not smoking and keeping a healthy weight.
Find out more about reducing your risk
We have more detailed information for health professionals about Hodgkin lymphoma risks and causes.
Last reviewed: 17 Jul 2024
Next review due: 17 Jul 2027
The most common symptom of Hodgkin lymphoma is swollen lymph nodes. Check the possible symptoms of Hodgkin lymphoma and when to see your doctor.
How to get the most out of seeing your GP, when you should see a specialist and what tests you might have.
The stage shows whether the lymphoma is in one area of your body (localised) or has spread to other areas. There are 4 stages for Hodgkin lymphoma.
The two types of Hodgkin lymphoma are classical Hodgkin lymphoma and nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL). There are also subtypes. Knowing the type helps your doctor choose the right treatment.
The main treatments for Hodgkin lymphoma include chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The treatment you have depends on a number of things such as the type and stage of Hodgkin lymphoma and your general health.
Hodgkin lymphoma is a cancer of a type of white blood cell called lymphocytes. Find out more about the tests, treatments and support available if you have Hodgkin lymphoma.
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