Hodgkin'S Lymphoma Symptoms And Treatment

The Lymphatic System’s main function is to act as part of the body’s immune system against micro-organisms and other harmful substances. A lymphoma is a tumour of the lymphatic tissue that is almost always malignant (cancerous). There are two types of lymphomas: Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s Lymphomas.

A lymphoma begins as an enlarged, painless mass of lymph nodes - bundles of lymphatic tissue that produce lymphocytes, which are immune system cells (cyte = cell), otherwise known as white blood cells. Lymphocytes protect the body against infections and the growth of tumours.

The three main lymph nodes lie in the groin, the armpit and the neck but most can be found anywhere, meaning Hodgkin's lymphoma can begin in almost any part of the body and spread to almost any tissue or organ in the body (being almost always malignant).

The enlargement of the lymph nodes (a lymphoma) can compress surrounding structures and affect the body’s necessary functions. The patient then has an increased chance of developing infections, as their immune system is down.

The main risk factors for Hodgkin’s lymphoma/disease are: being in young or late adulthood, being male, being infected with the Epstein-Barr virus, having a first-degree relative (parent, brother, or sister) with Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Unlike other lymphomas, whose incidence increases with age, Hodgkin's lymphoma occurs more frequently in two separate age groups - the first being young adulthood (age 15–35), and also in people aged 50 years and over.

At this time, the cause of Hodgkin’s disease is unknown. All scientists know is that Hodgkin’s disease is not caused by injury and it is not infectious.

There are three types of treatment for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Chemotherapy - a cancer treatment that uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping the cells from dividing. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays or other types of radiation to kill cancer cells. Surgery - Laparotomy is a procedure in which an incision is made in the wall of the abdomen to check the inside for signs of disease. Tissue samples are taken for biopsy.