RISKS

===Risk factors for lymphoma are similar to those for many cancers. They include uncontrollable factors such as age, gender, and heredity, as well as controllable ones like radiation and chemical exposure and blood contamination.=== ===In general, risk of developing lymphoma increases with age. The disease usually manifests itself between the ages of 60 and 70. Although everyone can be at risk, males tend to show a higher incidence of lymphoma, representing 52% of all cases in 2006.===

===Exact causes of lymphoma are unknown, but exposure to radiation and some insecticides has been known to increase risk. Unsurprisingly, incidence of lymphoma is also linked to immune-deficiencies caused by viruses such as HIV. HIV attacks t-cells, causing fewer to be able to fight away diseases, increasing risk of spreading cancerous cells and generally weakening the entire lymphatic immune system.=== ===Human t-cell lymphoma virus (HTLV-1) is a similar virus that can be passed by blood contamination, sexual activity, childbirth, and breast-feeding. Ironically, use of drugs to combat these viruses has also been known to raise risk of lymphoma.===


 * Images**
 * Right**: Pesticide spreading - http://www.croydonconservation.org.au/wp-content/uploads/spray.jpg
 * Bottom**: HIV and HTLV - http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2f/HTLV-1_and_HIV-1_EM_8241_lores.jpg