Hodgkin's lymphoma
is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow;
is one of the most successful forms of cancer;
Bears the name of Doctor Thomas Hodgkin, who was the first to see cases of cancer of lymphoid nodes in 1832. First known as "Hodgkin's disease", the disease was officially renamed "Hodgkin's Lymphoma" at the end of the 20th century.
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What you need to know
The name "Hodgkin's lymphoma" is given to a type of cancer that develops in the lymphatic system.
Hodgkin's lymphoma is one of the most successful forms of cancer treatment.
A patient with Hodgkin's lymphoma is usually taken care of by a medical specialist, either a hematologist or an oncologist.
The treatment includes radiation, chemotherapy, or both, depending on individual factors specific to each patient.
What you need to do
Each patient should discuss with their doctor the results of the diagnostic tests and what their results mean.
Since there are different types of Hodgkin's lymphoma, it is important for patients to know their subtype, each requiring different treatments.
How does Hodgkin lymphoma develop?
Hodgkin's lymphoma begins with an abnormal change (a mutation) that occurs in a white blood cell (lymphocyte) and transforms it into a lymphoma cell.
Lymphoma cells multiply and agglomerate in masses, usually in lymphoid nodes found in the lymphatic system throughout the body.
Lymphoma cells can also accumulate in other areas of the body where lymphoid tissues are found.
Hodgkin's lymphoma differs from other types of lymphoma by the presence of Reed-Sternberg cells (the name of the scientists who discovered them). Other cells associated with the disease are called hodgkiniennes cells.
In the absence of treatment, cancer cells multiply and supplant normal white blood cells, hindering the effectiveness of the immune system in preserving the organism from infections.
Risk Factors
In most people with Hodgkin's lymphoma, there is no obvious reason (risk factors) that explain the disease. The results of some studies on the causes of Hodgkin's lymphoma are not categorical.
Many studies seeking links between Hodgkin's Lymphoma and environmental exposures have not resulted in conclusive results.
Although Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been associated with nearly half of the cases of Hodgkin's lymphoma, it has not been clearly established that EBV was the cause.
Most cases of Hodgkin's lymphoma occur in people who do not have identifiable risk factors.
Most people with identifiable risk factors will not develop Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Patients who have had a blood test that confirms mononucleosis are three times more likely to have Hodgkin's lymphoma than the general population.
People infected with the human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV) or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) also have a greater likelihood of developing Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Experts found that sometimes siblings of people with Hodgkin's lymphoma tended to have the disease more often than those whose siblings were free. Although the link is not common, scientists are looking for why lymphoma is more common in some families than in others.
You cannot contract someone else's disease.
Signs and symptoms
The most common early sign of Hodgkin's lymphoma is the bulge of one or more lymphoid nodes. The knot thus swollen is usually painless and is located at the neck, upper chest, armpit, abdomen or groin.
In addition to swelling of lymphoid nodes, other signs and symptoms of Hodgkin's lymphoma may include:
A fever with no obvious cause;
A persistent cough
Shortness of breath during normal activities
Night sweats;
Fatigue and lack of energy
Unexplained weight loss
itching;
A pain in a lymphoid knot after drinking alcohol
An increase in the volume of the spleen.
Some of the symptoms of Hodgkin's lymphoma are associated with other less severe diseases. However, if you are concerned about any of the above symptoms, do not hesitate to consult your doctor.
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