The gene changes associated with 苍辞苍-贬辞诲驳办颈苍’蝉 lymphoma (NHL) are usually acquired during your lifetime, not inherited. But having a close relative with NHL may increase your risk of developing it.

Cancers occur when cells divide and grow abnormally in the body. Changes in our genes fuel this abnormal growth.

These changes are sometimes inherited, meaning parents pass them down directly to their children at birth. But this is not usually the case.

For example, for 苍辞苍-贬辞诲驳办颈苍’蝉 lymphoma (NHL), a type of blood cancer, the gene changes are not present at birth but rather acquired (picked up) during your lifetime.

Having a family history of lymphoma may increase your risk of NHL, but experts are not sure whether this is due to hereditary factors or shared lifestyles and environments.

No, you cannot inherit NHL from your parents. In fact, fewer than 10% of cancers are hereditary.

Research suggests that environmental factors are more important than hereditary factors in the development of NHL. These include:

  • living in an urban area
  • exposure to chemicals
  • chronic viral infections
  • radiation

Experts do not think that NHL runs in families. If you have a close relative with lymphoma, you may have a higher risk of developing NHL, but researchers are not sure whether this is due to hereditary factors or shared lifestyles and environments.

According to a 2021 research review, this increased risk also varies, depending on the NHL subtype.

Still, the risk is small. According to the Lymphoma Action Network, most people who have a close relative with NHL will not develop it during their lifetime.

Your age, other health conditions, and environmental factors play a stronger role in the development of NHL than your family history. In many cases, the cause of NHL is unknown.

All cancers are due to abnormal genetic changes (mutations) that change the way cells function, particularly how they grow, divide, and repair mistakes in your DNA.

Most cancers result from acquired genetic mutations, meaning the mutations are picked up during the course of your lifetime, rather than inherited (passed down from your parents).

Acquired mutations can result from exposure to harmful chemicals, infections, radiation, and other lifestyle factors. In some cases, scientists do not know why the changes occur.

Scientists are now learning more about the specific genetic changes related to the development of NHL in hopes of developing better diagnostic tests.

Known risk factors for 苍辞苍-贬辞诲驳办颈苍’蝉 lymphoma

Increasing age is a significant risk factor for NHL, with most cases diagnosed in people ages 60 years and older. Males are also more likely to get NHL than females.

Other risk factors include:

Read more about 苍辞苍-贬辞诲驳办颈苍’蝉 lymphoma causes and risk factors.

Is there a genetic predisposition to 苍辞苍-贬辞诲驳办颈苍’蝉 lymphoma?

No, there’s no genetic predisposition to NHL. Cancer is a genetic disease, but the gene changes associated with NHL are typically acquired during life.

Does race or ethnicity affect your risk of 苍辞苍-贬辞诲驳办颈苍’蝉 lymphoma?

In the United States, non-Hispanic white people are more likely than African American people and Asian American people to develop NHL.

However, according to 2020 research, some subtypes of NHL may be more common in Hispanic people and non-Hispanic Black people, particularly in urban areas. The exact reasons for the influence of race, ethnicity, and location are not fully understood, and more research is needed.

Is 苍辞苍-贬辞诲驳办颈苍’蝉 lymphoma infectious?

No, NHL is not infectious or contagious. But the development of lymphoma is linked to certain chronic infections, like HIV, HTLV-1, EBV, and human herpes virus 8 (HHV-8).

NHL is a type of cancer that starts in white blood cells called lymphocytes. Though having family members with NHL could mean you’re at a higher risk, the gene changes associated with NHL aren’t hereditary and can’t be passed on from parents to children.

At this time, there are not any reliable genetic tests for NHL because NHL’s genetic component is not fully understood.

If you have any of the known risk factors for NHL and a family history of lymphoma, talk with a doctor to assess your risk. They may recommend regular checkups to aid in early detection and treatment, leading to a better outlook.