Hodgkin LymphomaHodgkin Lymphoma is a cancer that involves the lymph nodes. There is a particular type of cancer cell called the Reed-Sternburg Cell in this cancer.Some other characteristics are: The exact cause for this cancer type is unknown. The cancer is painless though the lymph nodes enlarge. Symptomatology of Hodgkin Lymphoma is muscle weakness, running fevers, and maybe feeling short of breath depending on where the cancer is growing. There may also be itching and night sweats. There are about 7,000 cases a year of this cancer type. This cancer seems more common in males than females. The cancer rarely attacks anyone before age 10, and is most common in the age group of 15 to 40. Diagnosis When a person is displaying symptoms of lymph nodes that are enlarged and continues for a period of several weeks, doctors suspect this cancer type. Blood testing will reveal blood cell counts that are not normal as well. But to confirm the diagnosis definitely, a biopsy will be done. They will look for the presence of Reed-Sternberg cells in which the appearance of is very clear under a microscope. Tissue is obtained through an excisional biopsy, which is the preferred way of finding out. If the lymph node that is too large is very close within the body, they can get enough tissue by passing a needle through the skin. This reaches well enough into the lymph nodes for a good sample. What about treatment once found out? Once this cancer is definitely diagnosed, there will be a staging process. Your oncologist will need to determine at what stage the cancer is at in order to treat you properly. This cancer type is classified into 4 stages of disease. The higher the number, the further on the cancer has spread. The stages would go like this: Stage 1 At this stage, there is only a single lymph node group or region involved. Stage 2 This stage means that there are at least two areas involved, typically around the diaphragm. It is not unusual to have lumps coming up in the neck area. Stage 3 This stage means that there are lymph node areas not only above or below the diaphragm, but in both areas. Other areas are involved as well in the neck/and or groin area. Stage 4 This stage means that the cancer is in all stages above that I mentioned, but into bone marrow also. It is not uncommon to also be found in the liver.
This cancer type is very treatable with several chemotherapy drugs, and radiation after chemotherapy. Around 80% of persons that have Stage 1 or 2 can easily be cured. Those that have stage 3, the cure rate is still at least 70%. People that have gone into stage 4 have a not bad chance of remission at about 50% or so. People that relapse after their remission period have some degree of success with what is called second-line treatments. People that relapse in a short period after the first go-around of treatment do not have as a high a rate of a cure or remission as those who's cancer returns much later.
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