Lymphoma and Myeloma

What is lymphoma ?

The term lymphoma includes various types of lymphatic system cancers. The lymphatic system is part of the human immune system, which helps our body to defend primarily against infections. 

Lymphoma develops when one or more errors occur on the lymphocyte level, leading to the production of abnormal cells that proliferate or live much longer than healthy lymphocytes. Lymphoma most often affects lymphatic ganglions but could also develop in all parts of the body. Cancerous lymphocytes, such as healthy lymphocytes, develop in a variety of locations in the body including the lymph nodes, spleen, bone marrow or other organs.

There are many lymphomas. There are two main groups : 

• Hodgkin lymphomas (HO)
• non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NOHO). 

There are over 100 different types of lymphomas in the latter group. All these diseases manifest and behave noticeably differently, so they require an adapted treatment.

What is multiple myeloma ?

Multiple myeloma is a cancer that begins in plasma cells, which are a type of white blood cell specialized in the production of antibodies. It is therefore a particular form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. 

Myeloma develops when plasma cells begin to proliferate abnormally. These cells generally accumulate in the bone marrow and prevent other cells from growing normally. Multiple myeloma often causes bone damage.

Lymphoma and Myeloma Tumor Board

The Cancer Center's Lymphoma and Myeloma Program brings together at the weekly Tumor Board, or weekly seminar, all the medical expertise required to establish an accurate and reliable diagnosis and a treatment plan adapted to the typology of the disease, taking into account international recommendations and the patient's general condition.

This program offers patients :

• care given by a multidisciplinary team specializing in lymphoma
• cutting-edge expertise brought together for diagnosis: pathologist, cytogeneticist, radiologist and physician of nuclear medicine
• cutting-edge expertise brought together for treatments: hematologists and oncologists
• innovative treatments in clinical studies.