Hodgkin Lymphoma starts in the lymphatic system where blood cells grow out of control. It is also known as the Hodgkin disease (HD), and it originates from the white blood cells. Usually, the lymphocytes are responsible for fighting against viruses and infections. In people with HD, the abnormal growth of cells makes it difficult for the body to fight germs. Approximately nine thousand new patients have lymphoma every year (Ansell, 2015). The disease is mainly characterized by fever, persistent fatigue, recurrent swelling of lymph nodes, and unexplained weight loss. According to Ansell (2015), the disease can either be classified under classic or nodular lymphocytic disorder based on the affected cells.
Some researchers think that the disease is mainly caused by the Epstein-Barr virus. However, there is no definitive evidence about this; hence more research is being conducted. People with medical conditions that weaken their immune system, past infections, and a family history of lymphoma are advised to seek medical assistance on time (Cheson et al., 2014). To diagnose the disease, doctors ask about one’s personal and family medical history. The patient may also undergo tests such as blood test, a physical exam, and removing of a lymph cell for testing. After determining the level of lymphoma, the disease is assigned a stage which helps the doctor to determine the most effective prognosis and treatment options.
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A primary treatment method is chemotherapy where cancer cells are subjected to drugs that contain chemicals (Cheson et al., 2014). These drugs are distributed throughout the body using the bloodstream. Another method is radiation therapy which is commonly used for people with early stages of classical HD. Other factors that play a role in the choice of treatment procedure include the presence of systematic symptoms, customer preference, and the presence of other clinical factors that suggest the presence of other diseases (Ansell, 2015). Prognostic factors allow the use of less therapy for those who have improved health conditions after the first treatment. The main question for further research is how long can one survive after being diagnosed with HD.
References
Ansell, S. M. (2015). Hodgkin lymphoma: diagnosis and treatment. In Mayo Clinic Proceedings (Vol. 90, No. 11, pp. 1574-1583). Elsevier. Retrieved from: https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196(15)00550-9/pdf
Cheson, B. D., Fisher, R. I., Barrington, S. F., Cavalli, F., Schwartz, L. H., Zucca, E., & Lister, T. A. (2014). Recommendations for initial evaluation, staging, and response assessment of Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma: The Lugano classification. Journal of Clinical Oncology , 32 (27), 3059. Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4979083/ .
