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Hodgkin's Lymphoma(Hodgkin's Disease) Definition Hodgkin's lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system drains excess fluid from the blood and protects against infection. Hodgkin's lymphoma is different from other forms of :: lymphoma . The Lymphatic Organs © 2009 Nucleus Medical Media, Inc. Cancer occurs when cells in the body (in this case a type of white blood cell called lymphocyte) divide without control or order. If cells keep dividing uncontrollably when new cells are not needed, a mass of tissue forms, called a growth or tumor. The term cancer refers to malignant tumors, which can invade nearby tissue and can spread to other parts of the body. A benign tumor does not invade or spread. Causes The cause of Hodgkin's lymphoma is unknown. It is likely related to complex genetic and environmental factors that lead to alteration of the immune system. There are some compelling pieces of data to suggest that it is caused by a virus, and the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been considered. Risk Factors A risk factor is something that increases your chance of getting a disease or condition. Risk factors include:
Symptoms Symptoms include:
Diagnosis The doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history, and perform a physical exam. In particular, the doctor will carefully examine your lymph nodes. Most enlarged or swollen lymph nodes result from infection, not lymphomas. If infection is suspected, you may be given medication and instructed to return for re-examination. If swelling persists, your doctor may order a lymph node :: biopsy . The biopsy results will show whether there is cancer, and if so, the type and extent of the cancer that is present. Treatment of Hodgkin’s disease depends on the stage of the disease: how far the cancer has spread and what organs are affected. In general, this means that staging tests to evaluate the condition of the lymph nodes in the body, the liver, spleen, and bone marrow must be done. In addition:
Treatment Hodgkin's lymphoma is generally considered one of the more curable forms of cancer. The two primary ways of treating this cancer are: Chemotherapy and External Radiation Therapy :: Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy may be given in many forms including: pill, injection, and via a catheter. The drugs enter the bloodstream and travel through the body killing mostly cancer cells, but also some healthy cells. In :: radiation therapy , radiation is directed at the tumor from a source outside the body to kill the cancer cells. In many cases, both chemotherapy and radiation are used to cure a patient of Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The choice of treatments will be based on:
It is very important that you be seen by both the medical oncologist to discuss chemotherapy and the radiation oncologist to discuss the radiation therapy. It is not wise to see only one of these specialists since the best treatment results come from a discussion and integrated approach. If the cancer does not respond to chemotherapy or radiation, the outcome is usually very poor. There are some treatment options available, including:
RESOURCES: American Cancer Society National Cancer Institute CANADIAN RESOURCES: Canadian Cancer Society Lymphoma Foundation Canada References: Braunwald E. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine . 16th ed. New York, NY: McGraw Hill; 2005. What is hodgkin disease? American Cancer Society website. Available at: http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_2_1X_What_is_Hodgkins_disease_20.asp?rnav=cri . Accessed July 1, 2009. Last reviewed September 2009 by :: Mohei Abouzied, MD Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Copyright © 2004 EBSCO Publishing All rights reserved. |
