Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, also known as Hodgkin disease, is a cancer of the lymphatic system, which is part of the immune system. Hodgkin’s lymphoma is one of two common types of cancers of the lymphatic system—the other type, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, is more common.
Hodgkin lymphoma is distinguished by the presence of a cancer cell called a Reed-Sternberg cell. The cells in the lymphatic system grow abnormally. As lymphoma progresses, it compromises the body’s ability to fight infection.
The American Cancer Society estimates that in the United States about 8,500 new cases of Hodgkin Lymphoma will occur in 2016. About 1,120 deaths will result from this cancer.
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What are the Risk Factors?
Hodgkin disease occurs in both children and adults, but it is most common in early adulthood (ages 15 to 40, particularly in a person’s 20s). About 10 to 15 percent of cases are diagnosed in children and teenagers. Hodgkin disease is rare in children under the age of five. Aside from age, other risk factors include:
• Gender—about three men are affected to every two women
• Geography—Hodgkin disease is most common in the United States, Canada, and northern Europe. It is least common in Asian countries.
• Family history—brothers and sisters of young people with this disease have a higher risk for Hodgkin disease. The risk is quite high for an identical twin of a person with Hodgkin disease.
• The risk is increased in people infected with HIV
• Past infection with Epstein Barr Virus (EBV)
Nail Salon Toxic Exposure has been linked to certain cancers, such as Hodgkin Lymphoma.
Symptoms of Hodgkins Lymphoma
The best way to detect Hodgkin disease is to pay attention to possible early symptoms. The most common symptom is enlargement of one or more lymph nodes, causing a lump or bump under the skin which is usually not painful. This is most often on the side of the neck, in the armpit, or in the groin. Other symptoms may include:
• Persistent fatigue
• Fever and chills
• Night sweats
• Weight loss — some patients lose as much as 10 percent of their body weight or more
• Loss of appetite
• Itching
• Increased sensitivity to the effects of alcohol
• Pain in lymph nodes after drinking alcohol
Treatment and Prognosis of Hodgkins Lymphoma
With chemotherapy, or radiation therapy, most people with Hodgkins lymphoma can be cured. Advances in medical treatment have helped survival rates improve in the past few decades.
According to the American Cancer Society, the 1-year survival rate for patients diagnosed with Hodgkin disease is now about 92 percent. The 5-year and 10-year survival rates are about 86 and 80 percent, respectively.
A person who later relapses (lymphoma cells reappear) may still be cured with second-line treatment. The cure rate for people who relapse is at least 50 percent.
After treatment, Hodgkin Lymphoma patients have regular doctor’s examinations for continued surveillance. Particularly after intense radiation therapy, there is an increased risk of cancer, such as lung, breast, or stomach cancer, occurring ten or more years after treatment.
Non-Hodgkin lymphomas may develop in some people many years after successful treatment for Hodgkin’s disease.
