Hodgkin's disease refers to a type of cancer that starts invading the lymphatic system, a special system in the body responsible for carrying white blood cells that fight infection. The University of Maryland Medical Center says that Hodgkin's disease occurs in people who are between 15 and 35 and who are older than 55 years of age. Some symptoms of this disease include night sweats, a fever and swollen lymph nodes. Fortunately, treatments for Hodgkin's disease exist to decrease these symptoms.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy refers to toxic drugs that are given in order to destroy cancerous lymphatic cells. The MayoClinic.com website indicates that a wide variety of chemotherapy medication combinations are available to fulfill this feat. For example, the ABVD regimen consists of such chemotherapy drugs as doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine and dacarbazine. The Stanford V regimen consists of such medications as vinvlastine, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine and prednisone. Some of the side effects for these medications include vomiting, nausea, a headache and fatigue. In some instances, these chemotherapy drugs can lead to an allergic reaction. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include swelling of the tongue, face or throat, hives and difficulty breathing. It is important to go to the emergency room when chemotherapy leads to these effects.
Radiation
Hodgkin's disease can also be treated with high energy X-rays to eliminate lymphatic cancer cells. The MayoClinic.com says that doctors will typically eliminate the affected lymphatic cells and the surrounding lymph nodes in which the cancerous cells can spread. Radiation therapy typically is provided via external machines that are specifically aimed toward the affected region. Some side effects from radiation therapy include nausea, fatigue and hair loss.
Bone Marrow Transplant
A bone marrow transplant is another treatment option for Hodgkin's disease. In a bone marrow transplant, healthy bone marrow cells replace the bone marrow cells that have been destroyed via chemotherapy or radiation treatments. Medline Plus, a publication of the National Institutes of Health, indicates that some complications of a bone marrow transplant include bleeding, infections, pain, diarrhea, cataracts and early menopause. In some instances, a serious complication called graft-versus-host disease can develop. Here, the body reacts to the new bone marrow cells. Diarrhea, a skin rash, skin tightness and a dry mouth are just a few symptoms of graft-versus-host disease.
