What Is Hodgkin's Lymphoma?

Overview

The lymphatic system in the body consists of nodes, ducts and organs that transport lymph, which is a clear fluid. Lymphocytes are immune cells found in the lymph that help ward off bacteria and viruses. Hodgkin's lymphoma is a type of cancer that attacks the lymphatic system and causes cells to grow abnormally.

Potential

Hodgkin's lymphoma is one of two types of lymphatic system cancer. The other one is more common and it is called "non-Hodgkin's lymphoma." Improved prognosis and advancements in treatments over the course of time have increased the potential for a full recovery with this disease that once had a high fatality rate. According to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, the five-year survival rate of Hodgkin's lymphoma patients has increased from 40 percent in whites from 1960 to 1963 to more than 86 percent for all races from 1999 to 2005.

Types

Hodgkin's lymphoma has two types. They are called "nodular lymphocyte-predominant" and "classical." Most cases of Hodgkin's are the classical type and there are four subtypes they fall into: nodular sclerosing, mixed cellularity, lymphocyte depleted and lymphocyte rich classical.

Features

Lymph nodes in the upper part of the body, such as the neck, chest and under your arms, are the locations where Hodgkin's lymphoma usually first starts. After the cancer has developed in the lymph nodes, the rest of the body can then get hit with it.

Causes

Lymph cells called B cells are important for immunity. To ward off infections, B cells team up with T cells. Reed-Sternberg cells are what is created when B cells become abnormal and cancerous. Instead of dying, Reed-Sternberg cells continue to multiply and take over normal immune cells. This in turn causes enlargement of the lymph nodes and the cancer spreads.

Symptoms

Other than swollen lymph nodes, Hodgkin's lymphoma has several other signs and symptoms. Examples of these signs are fever, chills, excessive weight loss, itching, night sweats, loss of appetite, fatigue and sensitivity in your lymph nodes after drinking alcohol. Because these symptoms can be caused by a variety of other conditions, you should see your doctor if they last for several weeks or keep going and coming back.

Risk Factors

People who are 15 to 40 years old or over 55 are the most likely to get Hodgkin's. Males have a slightly higher risk than females, and people living in Canada, the United States and northern Europe are at higher risk than other nations, according to the Mayo Clinic. If your sister or brother had the disease, your chances of getting it go up.

Treatments

Chemotherapy is one of the main treatments for Hodgkin's lymphoma. Drugs are taken in combination to kill cancer cells and prevent them from spreading. Examples of these are ABVD, BEACOPP, Stanford V, COPP/ABVD and MOPP. Radiation therapy is sometimes used in conjunction with chemotherapy. This is a procedure where cancer cells are killed by the use of high powered x-rays.