The Scotland & Newcastle Lymphoma Group (SNLG) was first founded in 1979 when groups of doctors from Newcastle and the Northern Region met with those from Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen to decide to collaborate and co-operate in the investigation and treatment of people with lymph-gland cancers. During the course of the 1980’s the west of Scotland joined the group and at the present time the collective organisation has the largest, most comprehensive (anonymised) dataset on lymph-gland cancer worldwide.

1200 new patients present with this form of tumour annually and it is one of the most diverse forms of disease area within medicine. There are 24 to 30 different microscopic categories and the disease affects different organs at different times of life. Progress for many of the areas is hampered because of the sheer diversity of the problem. Because of the logically, co-ordinated approach that has been in place now for over 20 years, the SNLG has been able to use its experience and data to bring rational and developmental treatments to a whole range of the sub-groups. This last year has seen the organisation, to a large extent funded by Marrow Transplant 2000, NEPAC and other charities, produce a series of ground-breaking publications which have changed the treatments for many of these patients and we hope will benefit many more worldwide. As you can see this is a long-term, painstaking business.

In previous years I have demonstrated big strides for Hodgkin’s disease but progress with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is much slower. This is a form of tumour which has been increasing in incidence by 4% per annum since 1980. The plan for the immediate future is to further enhance the clinico-laboratory based research area of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.