Home / Lymphoma / Hodgkin's lymphoma: symptoms and treatment

Hodgkin's lymphoma: symptoms and treatment

Hodgkin's lymphoma (Hodgkin's disease) is a type of cancer of the lymphatic system. It is characterized by the presence of cells, reed-Sternberg. "Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma" is a lymphoma in which cells are not formed.

The cause of Hodgkin's lymphoma is still uncertain, research is carried out next. However, there is quite convincing evidence that in some cases its occurrence is associated with specific viral infections. For example, the Epstein-Barr appears in about half of cases of Hodgkin's disease. There is also a link between Hodgkin's lymphoma and measles virus.

What are the symptoms of this disease?

Hodgkin's lymphoma is characterized by progressive enlargement of the lymph nodes, liver and spleen. It is accompanied by progressive anemia. The main symptoms of Hodgkin's lymphoma enlarged lymph nodes. It is also possible to allocate the most frequent signs and symptoms of Hodgkin's lymphoma:

  • enlarged lymph nodes in the neck, underarms and groin;
  • unexplained high temperature;
  • the presence of sweating at night;
  • systematic weight loss over several months;
  • fatigue and weakness;
  • the presence of cough or shortness of breath;
  • itching all over the body.

The diagnosis can be established by biopsy.

The stage of the disease

After the diagnosis is confirmed, it is necessary to determine the stage of the disease. This can be done using x-rays, CT, PET-CT, MRI.

  • Hodgkin's lymphoma stage 1: the affected only 1 group of lymph nodes or lymphoma there is one body.
  • Hodgkin's lymphoma stage 2: 2 or more groups of lymph nodes affected or the diseased organ and 1 or more groups of lymph nodes (on the same side of the diaphragm).
  • Hodgkin's lymphoma stage 3: lymph nodes on both sides of the diaphragm.
  • Hodgkin's lymphoma stage 4: the affected many groups of lymph nodes that the lymphoma has spread to organs such as the liver, bones or lungs.

Treatment

Treatment for Hodgkin's lymphoma depends on the stage of the disease. This lymphoma is a type of cancer. It usually can be cured with radiation therapy. If the disease has time to affect a large number of the lymph nodes and then spreads to other organs, the treatment method is preferably Hodgkin's lymphoma with chemotherapy. Autologous bone marrow transplantation used in the manifestation of relapse after initial chemotherapy-induced remission. Stem cells are harvested and frozen before treatment with chemotherapy. After aggressive chemotherapy, these cells are injected back into the patient's body. Experts abroad quite successfully carried out the treatment of Hodgkin's disease.

Hodgkin's lymphoma: prognosis