Hodgkin Lymphoma: Risk Factors

What is a risk factor?


Things you should know about risk factors for cancer:

  • Risk factors can increase your risk, but they might not cause the disease.

  • Some people with 1 or more risk factors never get cancer. Other people may get cancer but have no risk factors.



Who is at risk for Hodgkin lymphoma?

Risk factors for Hodgkin lymphoma include:

  • Age. Hodgkin lymphoma occurs most often in people in their 20s or after age 55.

  • Gender. More men than women get Hodgkin lymphoma.


  • Where you live. Hodgkin lymphoma is most common in the U.S., Canada, and Europe. It is least common in Africa and Asia.

  • Socioeconomic status. People in wealthier families have a higher risk for Hodgkin lymphoma than those in families that are less wealthy. Doctors don't know why this is so.



What are your risk factors?

Talk with your healthcare provider about your risk factors for Hodgkin lymphoma. Ask if there are things you can do to lower your risk. Most of the known risk factors for Hodgkin lymphoma can't be changed. These include your age, gender, and family history. It's also not possible to prevent infection with EBV. There are things you can do to lower your risk for HIV infection. But HIV doesn't play a role in most cases of Hodgkin lymphoma.

There are no regular screening tests to look for Hodgkin lymphoma in people who don’t have symptoms. But you should know about possible symptoms of Hodgkin lymphoma. This is even more important if you have known risk factors for it, such as a strong family history. If you have symptoms such as enlarged lymph nodes that don’t go away after a few weeks, see your healthcare provider.

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