Lymphoma, a cancer that originates in the lymphocytes (white blood cells crucial to our immune system), is a significant health concern that often flies under the radar compared to more commonly discussed cancers. Affecting millions globally, lymphoma is a diverse group of cancers, and categorized into Hodgkin lymphoma and Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), each with numerous subtypes.1
Unlike some cancers with clear-cut risk factors like smoking for lung cancer, lymphoma is complex, often stemming from genetic predispositions, lifestyle choices, and the environmental and systemic factors rooted in where and how we live.1
For communities like ours, understanding these risk factors is not about succumbing to fear. It is about empowering ourselves with knowledge, fostering proactive health management, and advocating for a future where everyone has an equitable chance at health.
1. A Weakened Immune System
The most significant risk factor for lymphoma is a compromised or weakened immune system.2 Our immune system is our body’s defense force, and when it’s not functioning optimally, it can’t effectively identify and destroy cancerous cells. This is a critical factor for two main reasons:
- Medical Conditions and Treatments: Individuals with autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus have an increased risk of lymphoma because their immune systems are chronically overactive. Similarly, people who have received an organ transplant and are on immunosuppressant drugs to prevent organ rejection are at a higher risk.2
- Infections: Certain viruses and bacteria can weaken the immune system or directly lead to the cancerous transformation of lymphocytes. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which causes mononucleosis and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) have both been linked to Hodgkin lymphoma.2 For Black and Brown communities that have been disproportionately affected by certain infectious diseases, this risk factor takes on a more serious dimension.2
2. Environmental and Occupational Exposures
Our external environment, the air we breathe, the water we drink, the chemicals we work with, can also play a silent yet significant role in lymphoma risk. These exposures, often invisible, can contribute to cellular damage and immune dysregulation.3
- Chemicals and Toxins: Epidemiological studies have shown strong associations between certain chemical exposures and an increased risk of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma.3
- Pesticides and Herbicides: Exposure to specific agricultural chemicals, such as the widely used herbicide, glyphosate, has been linked to increased NHL risk. Benzene, a chemical found in some pesticides, gasoline, and industrial solvents, is a known human carcinogen and a risk factor for lymphoma.3
- Industrial Solvents: Other industrial chemicals, such as trichloroethylene (TCE), frequently used as a degreaser, have also been associated with lymphoma.3
These environmental and occupational hazards are rarely distributed equally across society. The principle of environmental justice highlights how Black and Brown communities are disproportionately situated near industrial facilities, major transportation corridors, and hazardous waste sites.4
3. Race, Ethnicity, and Socioeconomic Status (SES)
Perhaps the most complex and often overlooked risk factors for lymphoma are those rooted in social determinants of health: race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. These are not merely demographic markers but powerful indicators of systemic advantages or disadvantages that profoundly shape health trajectories.5
Lower SES, encompassing factors like income, education level, and occupation, acts as a powerful mediator of lymphoma risk and outcomes.5 While overall Non-Hodgkin lymphoma incidence rates in the United States tend to be higher in white populations, a deeper dive reveals critical nuances and alarming disparities for Black and Brown communities:
- Access to Care: Individuals from lower SES backgrounds often face limited access to health insurance, primary care physicians, timely diagnostic testing, and specialized oncological care, including cutting-edge treatments and clinical studies. This leads to delays in diagnosis and suboptimal treatment.5
- Exposure to Risk Factors: Lower SES is often correlated with living in disadvantaged neighborhoods, which are more likely to harbor environmental pollution and food deserts. Occupational exposures to harmful chemicals are also more prevalent in certain manual labor roles disproportionately held by individuals from lower SES.4
- Chronic Stress: The lived experience of poverty, discrimination, and systemic racism inflicts chronic physiological stress, impacting immune function and overall health resilience, further contributing to cancer risk and progression.5
Understanding these intersecting realities is critical. It shows there is an urgent need for medical research to disaggregate data by race, ethnicity, and SES, and to invest in culturally competent healthcare models that address the unique challenges faced by these communities.
4. Lifestyle and Genetics
Beyond the systemic and environmental, personal choices and genetic predispositions also play a role in lymphoma risk.
- Weight and Diet: A growing body of evidence links obesity to an increased risk of several cancers, including lymphoma.6 Maintaining a healthy weight is a modifiable risk factor. Diets rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains may offer a protective effect, suggesting the importance of balanced nutrition.6
- Family History and Genetics: While most cases of lymphoma are not directly inherited, having a close family member (a parent or sibling) with lymphoma slightly increases your risk. This suggests that a genetic predisposition or shared environmental exposures within families may play a role in some cases.1
Empowerment Through Knowledge and Action
Lymphoma risk is not a simple equation. Our communities are often burdened by additional threads of historical injustice and systemic inequality, amplifying risks and complicating outcomes.
This knowledge, however, is not meant to evoke despair. It is a powerful call to action. By understanding these multifaceted risks, we are empowered to:
- Be Attentive: Be aware of your family health history, monitor your body for unusual changes, and advocate assertively for thorough medical evaluations and appropriate screenings.
- Demand Environmental Justice: Join collective efforts to combat environmental racism, pushing for policies that protect our communities from hazardous exposures and promote healthier living environments.
- Advocate for Equitable Healthcare: Support initiatives that expand access to high-quality, culturally competent care, ensuring that every individual, regardless of their background, receives timely diagnosis and optimal treatment.
By understanding these complex factors, we can collectively work towards early detection, better treatment outcomes, and ultimately, a future where the burden of lymphoma is equitably reduced, allowing all members of our community to live healthier, longer lives.
References:
- Jamil, A., & Mukkamalla, S. K. (2023, July 17). Lymphoma. Retrieved from StatPearls: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560826/
- ACS. (2024, February 15). Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Risk Factors. Retrieved from American Cancer Society: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/non-hodgkin-lymphoma/causes-risks-prevention/risk-factors.html
- Francisco, L. F., Nunes da Silva, R., Oliveira, M. A., Neto, M. F., Gonçalves, I. Z., Marques, M. M., & Silveira, H. C. (2023). Occupational Exposures and Risks of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma: A Meta-Analysis. Cancers. doi:10.3390/cancers15092600
- Skelton, R., & Lindwall, C. (2025, August 14). The Environmental Justice Movement. Retrieved from The Natural Resources Defense Council: https://www.nrdc.org/stories/environmental-justice-movement
- DiMarco, R., & Milli, L. (2022). Race, Social Determinants of Health, and Cancer: How Can APs Address and Improve Patient Outcomes? Journal of the Advanced Practitioner in Oncology. doi:10.6004/jadpro.2022.13.3.8
- ACS. (2025, September 3). Excess Body Weight and Cancer Risk. Retrieved from American Cancer Society: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/risk-prevention/diet-physical-activity/body-weight-and-cancer-risk.html
