What is Hodgkin lymphoma?
Lymphoma is a cancer that begins in the white blood cells called lymphocytes. There are two main types of lymphoma:
Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma arise from different types of cell. They behave, spread and respond to treatment differently, so it is important to know which one you have.
To understand what Hodgkin lymphoma is, you need to know about the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is part of the immune system, helping to fight infections and some other diseases. It is made up mostly of cells called lymphocytes — a type of white blood cell.
- B lymphocytes (B cells): B cells produce substances that help protect the body from microbes (bacteria and viruses).
- T lymphocytes (T cells): there are many kinds of T lymphocyte. Some T cells destroy microbes or altered cells. Others help speed up or slow down the activity of other immune-system cells.
Hodgkin lymphoma usually begins in the B lymphocytes.
Although Hodgkin lymphoma can begin almost anywhere, it most often starts in the lymph nodes in the upper part of the body. The most common sites are in the chest, the neck or under the arms.
Hodgkin lymphoma usually spreads through the lymphatic vessels. Later it can penetrate the blood and spread to other parts of the body, such as the liver, lungs and/or bone marrow.
Hodgkin lymphoma symptoms
The most common sign of Hodgkin lymphoma is enlarged lymph nodes. However, this is not exclusive to Hodgkin lymphoma — enlarged lymph nodes can occur with other cancers, inflammatory diseases or infections. Other signs and symptoms of Hodgkin lymphoma:
- night sweats
- weight loss
- fever
- weakness at night
- cough or shortness of breath
Causes of Hodgkin lymphoma
Hodgkin lymphoma is not contagious and is thought not to be hereditary. Although the risk increases if first-degree relatives (parents, siblings or children) had lymphoma, this is likely due to lifestyle factors, since there is no “inherited” Hodgkin lymphoma gene.
Risk factors that do not depend on you:
- You have a disease that weakens the immune system, such as HIV.
- You are receiving treatment that weakens your immune system, for example immune-suppressing drugs after an organ transplant.
- You were previously infected with the Epstein-Barr virus.
- Other immune-related diseases also raise the risk (sinusitis, tuberculosis, encephalitis, herpes and so on).
Risk factors that do depend on you: the lifestyle factors you can control — diet, smoking, alcohol and the like.
Hodgkin lymphoma treatment
The specific treatment plan depends on your general health, age and how far the cancer has spread.
The main treatments for Hodgkin lymphoma are chemotherapy, or chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy. Sometimes chemotherapy may be combined with steroid drugs. Some people are also given biological preparations.
Treatment of Hodgkin lymphoma is quite effective.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is a treatment in which drugs are used to destroy cancer cells. Depending on the stage, chemotherapy can be given in various ways. It can have several side effects, the most important being possible damage to bone-marrow activity. This can disrupt the production of healthy blood cells and cause these problems:
- fatigue
- shortness of breath
- increased risk of infections
- bleeding
If you face these problems, treatment may have to be delayed so you can produce more healthy blood cells. Drugs with growth factors can also stimulate blood-cell production.
Other possible side effects of chemotherapy:
- nausea and vomiting
- diarrhea
- loss of appetite
- mouth ulcers
- fatigue
- skin rashes
- hair loss
- infertility, which may be temporary or permanent
If standard chemotherapy is not effective, or Hodgkin lymphoma has returned after treatment, you may be given a course of chemotherapy at a higher dose. Unfortunately, this intensive chemotherapy destroys your bone marrow, causing the problems mentioned above. You may need a stem-cell or bone-marrow transplant to replace the damaged bone marrow.
Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy is most often used to treat early-stage Hodgkin lymphoma, when the cancer is in only one part of the body.
Radiotherapy itself is painless, but it can cause certain side effects. These can vary and are directly related to the part of the body being treated. For example, treating the throat may cause a sore throat, and treating the head may cause hair loss.
Other common side effects are:
- feeling unwell or nausea
- skin rash
- headache
- fatigue
- muscle or joint pain
- shortness of breath
Most side effects are temporary, but there is a risk of long-term problems, including infertility and permanent darkening of the skin at the treatment site. Discuss this with your doctor.
Biological therapy (targeted therapy)
You may be offered targeted therapy if a certain rare Hodgkin lymphoma is diagnosed, or if other treatments do not help or are not suitable.
Biological therapy, also called targeted therapy, helps your immune system attack the cancer cells. It is given by drip into a vein.
Side effects depend on which drug you take. The most common side effects are: feeling unwell or nausea, skin rash, headache, fatigue, muscle or joint pain, and shortness of breath. Side effects often diminish as your body gets used to the drug.
Supplements for cancer
You need to balance your diet and the other factors (smoking, alcohol and so on) that only YOU can control. Then cancer treatment (such as chemotherapy) will be even more effective. With natural anti-cancer supplements you can help immunity fight the cancer cells. Effectiveness depends on the dose and the duration of use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Hodgkin lymphoma is a cancer beginning in the lymphatic system, most often in the lymph nodes. It differs from other lymphomas in having characteristic Reed-Sternberg cells. It is one of the best-treatable forms of cancer, especially when diagnosed early.
Yes. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy strongly suppress the immune system. Concentrated mushroom-polysaccharide extracts are studied for their role in activating NK cells and macrophages. It is important to choose a concentrated multi-extract formula such as Lentinan AXT by Zenius Labs™.
Hodgkin lymphoma is one of the best-treatable forms of cancer. When diagnosed early, five-year survival exceeds 90%. But even after successful treatment, long-term immune support is important because a risk of recurrence remains.
The most common symptoms are enlarged lymph nodes (most often in the neck), heavy night sweats, unexplained fever, and weight loss. These symptoms do not necessarily mean cancer, but if you notice them it is worth seeing a doctor.
The main treatment is chemotherapy, often combined with radiotherapy. In more severe cases, biological (targeted) therapy or stem-cell transplantation may be used. Immune support during treatment is important.