The majority of people with celiac disease have an excellent outlook if they adopt a gluten-free diet. However, researchers believe that people with celiac disease are at an increased risk of developing certain types of cancer, including NHL.

The majority of people with celiac disease do not develop cancer, and research suggests the increased risk is small.

Celiac disease and cancer

According to a Literature Review 2021many studies have looked at the link between celiac disease and cancer.

Some studies in the literature review found that people with celiac disease had a higher risk of developing cancer, while other studies found no difference in cancer risk for people with celiac disease. celiac disease and the general population.

A big study 2022 in Sweden found that a group of 47,241 people with celiac disease developed cancer slightly more often than people without celiac disease.

Researchers reported that in any given year, about 6.5 out of 1,000 people with celiac disease developed cancer, compared to 5.7 out of 1,000 people in the general population.

The researchers found that the risk of developing cancer was only significantly higher in the first year after being diagnosed with celiac disease, and only in people over 40. People diagnosed with celiac disease after age 60 were most at risk.

Celiac disease and non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Early studies estimated that people with celiac disease were 100 times more likely to develop lymphoma, but that number is now believed to be much lower. Most studies now report a 3 to 12 times higher risk of all types of NHL and a 16 to 40 times higher risk of intestinal lymphomas.

Almost all studies in the literature review found that the risk of dying from lymphoma is higher in people with celiac disease.

In a large Finnish study from 2020, researchers found that people with celiac disease had a 2.36 times higher risk of dying from lymphoma than the general population.

Celiac disease and T-cell lymphoma associated with enteropathy

A small number of people with celiac disease, approximately 1 to 2 percentdevelop refractory celiac disease.

We speak of refractory celiac disease when the celiac disease does not respond to at least 12 months treatment with a gluten-free diet. It is associated with a rare form of NHL called enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma (EATL).

EATL is an aggressive type of lymphoma with a poor prognosis, and it grows in the intestines. The large majority cases of EATL develop from refractory celiac disease.

Lymphoma starts in a type of white blood cells called lymphocytes. Your body contains lymphocytes in the lining of your intestines.

According to American Cancer Society, it is thought that overactivation of the immune system in autoimmune diseases like celiac disease could cause lymphocytes to grow and divide more often than normal, increasing their risk of becoming cancerous.

In a study 2016, researchers examined cancer risk in first-degree relatives of people with celiac disease. They found that first-degree relatives were not at high risk for cancer. This suggests that shared genes probably do not explain the risk of lymphoma in people with celiac disease.

The presence of certain genes may play a role in the development of EATL in people with refractory celiac disease. In a study 2022researchers have found strong evidence that mutations in the JAK1-STAT3 pathway are the primary drivers of lymphocyte changes.

If you have celiac disease, it is important to avoid eating gluten. Even eating small amounts of gluten can trigger symptoms.

In the Swedish study 2022, the researchers found that the risk of celiac disease was not highest until the first year after diagnosis. The researchers note that this may be because switching to a gluten-free diet could help reduce the risk.

In a 2022 review, researchers found evidence that in people with celiac disease, not following a gluten-free diet increases the risk of developing cancer. However, further research is needed to fully understand the link.

Many of the other risk factors for developing NHL are largely beyond your control.

According to American Cancer Society, some studies suggest that being overweight or obese increases the risk of NHL. A balanced, nutritious diet and regular physical activity can help reduce your risk of developing lymphoma.

NHL can cause many different symptoms depending on:

• where cancer is growing in your body
• how advanced is it
• what subtype you have

You may not have any symptoms until the cancer grows.

Some of the most common Signs and symptoms to understand:

NHL symptoms can also include “B symptoms,” which play an important role in the staging of lymphoma. These are:

• fever
• profuse night sweats
• unintentionally lose at least 10% of your body weight over 6 months

Some of the symptoms of NHL, such as fatigue and weight loss, can also be signs of celiac disease. The main symptoms of EATL are intestinal problems like diarrhea and stomach pain, which can also mimic celiac disease.

It is important to see your doctor any time you develop new or worsening symptoms. Your doctor can help you determine the underlying cause.

Researchers have found that people with celiac disease develop certain types of cancer, such as NHL, more often than people in the general population. However, most people with celiac disease do not develop cancer.

You can minimize your risk of developing celiac complications by sticking to a gluten-free diet. The outlook for most people with celiac disease is excellent when they avoid gluten.

A small number of people with celiac disease continue to experience symptoms even when on a gluten-free diet. If you fall into this category, your doctor can help you develop an alternative treatment plan.