Disease that can hide for years

LYMPHOMA is the fifth most common group of cancers in Britain.

Caused when white blood cells go out of control, it includes a range of cancers, most of them treatable.

It is divided into two categories – Hodgkin and the much more numerous non-Hodgkin – with follicular lymphoma the most common type of low-grade or slow-growing non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

About 1, 00 people are diagnosed with follicular lymphoma every year in the UK with the average age at diagnosis around 65.

It grows slowly in the lymphatic system, meaning it is usually hard to diagnose, leaving lymphomas known as ‘the hidden cancer’.

But follicular lymphoma can be kept under control for years. It is usually discovered following examination of a lump in the neck, groin or armpit. Doctors often recommend regular monitoring because the side-effects of treatment can outweigh the benefits.