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Types of Cancer - Hodgkin's Disease
Hodgkin's disease is one of a group of cancers called lymphomas. Lymphoma is a general term for cancers that develop in the lymphatic system. Hodgkin's disease, an uncommon lymphoma, accounts for less than 1% of all cases of cancer in this country.
Types of Cancer
What is Hodgkin's Disease?
The lymphatic system is part of the body's immune system, its defense against disease and infection. The lymphatic system is composed of a network of thin lymph vessels and nodes that run like blood vessels throughout the body. Lymph vessels carry lymph, a watery, colorless fluid that contains infection-fighting white blood cells called lymphocytes. When lymphocytes become diseased and replicate at an abnormal, uncontrolled rate, lymphoma (lymphatic cancer) results.
Diagnosing Hodgkin's Disease
If Hodgkin's disease is suspected, the doctor asks about the person's medical history and performs a physical exam to check general signs of health. The exam includes feeling to see if the lymph nodes in the neck, underarm, or groin are enlarged. The doctor may order blood tests and other tests that produce pictures of the inside of the body. These may include:
X-rays
High-energy radiation used to take pictures of areas inside the body, such as the chest, bones, liver, and spleen.
CT (or CAT) scan
A series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body. The pictures are created by a computer linked to an x-ray machine.
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
Detailed pictures of areas inside the body produced with a powerful magnet linked to a computer.
The diagnosis depends on a biopsy. A surgeon removes a sample of lymphatic tissue (part or all of a lymph node) so that a pathologist can examine it under a microscope to check for cancer cells. Other tissues may be sampled as well. The pathologist studies the tissue and checks for Reed-Sternberg cells, large abnormal cells that are usually found with Hodgkin's disease.
Treatment
The doctor develops a treatment plan to fit each patient's needs. Treatment for Hodgkin's disease depends on the stage of the disease, the size of the enlarged lymph nodes, which symptoms are present, the age and general health of the patient, and other factors.
Radiation therapy and chemotherapy are the most common treatments for Hodgkin's disease, although bone marrow transplantation, peripheral stem cell transplantation, and biological therapies are being studied in clinical trials. In the past few years, Clearview has created a new peripheral stem cell transplantation program; see our Treatments section for more information.
Many patients and their families want to learn all they can about Hodgkin's disease and the treatment choices so they can take an active part in decisions about medical care. The doctor is the best person to answer these questions. When discussing treatment, the patient may want to talk with the doctor about research studies of new treatment methods. Such studies, called clinical trials, are designed to improve cancer treatment. More information about clinical trials is in the Clinical Trials section.
Researchers are finding better ways to treat Hodgkin's disease, and the chances of recovery keep improving. Still, it is natural for patients and their families to be concerned about the future. There are many resources available both on and off the web for patients and their families. Links to some good web sites can be found on our web resources page, or check out our recommended reading list for patients and their families.
Source: NCI Cancernet