Hodgkin's lymphoma is a cancer of the lymph tissue. Its treatments include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. The 10-year survival rate for Hodgkin's lymphoma is more than 80 percent if the disease is treated early, according the National Institutes of Health. If the disease is more advanced, the typical prognosis is for a 60 percent chance of surviving more than five years.
Symptoms
Hodgkin's lymphoma affects the lymph nodes, liver, spleen and bone marrow. Its main symptoms include swelling of the lymph nodes, weight loss and fever.
The disease is most common among younger people, ages 15 to 35, and older people aged 50 to 70, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Diagnosis
You should schedule an exam if you experience the main symptoms of Hodgkin's lymphoma. The disease can be diagnosed through biopsies of bone marrow, lymph nodes, or other tissue where the disease is suspected. Blood chemistry tests, bone marrow biopsies, and CT or PET scans are used to determine how far the disease has advanced.
Stages
Cases of Hodgkin's lymphoma are categorized into four classifications describing how far the disease has advanced. A stage I Hodgkin's lymphoma describes a case where only one lymph node is affected. In a stage II case, two lymph nodes on the same side of the diaphragm are affected. Stage III describes a case where the lymphoma is evident on both sides of the diaphragm. And in stage IV, the disease has spread beyond the lymph nodes.
Treatment in Adults
In adults, Hodgkin's lymphoma is likely to be treated with chemotherapy, radiation therapy or a combination of the two. Sometimes, the disease is treated in adults with a surgery called a laparotomy, according to the National Cancer Institute. In a lapatoromy, an incision is made in the wall of the abdomen to check for cancerous tissue, which is removed if it's found.
Treatment in Children
In children, Hodgkin's lymphoma may be treated with chemotherapy or radiation therapy. In some cases, the disease is treated with chemotherapy in high doses, and patients are given transplants of stem cells to replace blood-forming cells that are destroyed by the treatment. Cancerous tissue is also sometimes removed through surgery.
Tags: Hodgkin lymphoma, lymph nodes, according National, bone marrow, chemotherapy radiation
