The American Cancer Society estimates that 53,370 cases of NHL (28,850 men and 25,520 women) will be diagnosed in the U.S. this year, and 19,410 people are expected to die of the disease.  It is the fifth most common cancer in the US. A person’s risk of developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma during their lifetime is about 1 in 50. 95% of Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas occur in adults, 5% in children.   The average age at diagnosis is 60 - the elderly have the highest risk of getting NHL.  As the "baby boom" population gets older, the number of NHL cases is, unfortunately, expected to rise.

of information on cancer incidence and survival in the United States. 

Below are the latest charts for incidence of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma based on SEER data.  1973 was the first date information was collected while 1996 is the last date for which I have collated data.
(Click on the image for a larger view)

The data seems to show that new cases NHL are increasing.  The good news can be seen in the mortality curves - more people are surviving NHL in all categories due to more effective treatments.

Modern data and more detailed data can be found on the new SEER page for Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. (updated link)

US National Cancer Institute SEER Data - Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

American Cancer Institute - Key Statistics for Non-Hodgkin's Disease 

For more information on Adult Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, please see the following pages:

• Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
• Lymphoma Classification and Typing
• Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma: Diagnosis
• Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma: Aggressive Lymphomas
• Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma: Indolent Lymphomas
• Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma: Treatment
• Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma: Resources

For information on Childhood Lymphomas see:

• Childhood Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Information Pages

The main menu - gateway to support & more:

• The Lymphoma Information Network

References: