Hodgkin’s lymphoma is enlargement of lymphoid tissue, which is painless and progresses throughout the body. The disease usually begins with enlargement of the lymph nodes in the neck; it then spreads to other parts such as chest, armpits, spleen and liver.
The disease is generally rare to occur and is present in both sexes, chiefly in adolescence and early adult life. The cause is unknown, and the condition is regarded as a form of cancer allied to other tumors of the reticulo-endothelial system.
Symptoms of Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- The disease has an insidious onset. The lymph nodes in the neck are first to get enlarged, then the lymph nodes in armpits and groin region gets enlarged, chest and abdominal lymph nodes are last to get affected.
- The enlarged nodes are painless, discrete and rubbery and the size is from 2 to 6 cms in diameter. The skin is freely mobile over the gland.
- Pressure from the enlarged nodes can cause difficulty in swallowing, breathlessness, jaundice and in rare cases paralysis.
- Spleen and liver are enlarged.
- Progressive weakness and loss of weight is seen.
- Fever
- Itching all over the body in 10percent of cases is present.
- Anemia is common.
Treatment of Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- It depends on the stage of the cancer, the number of the sites of involvement of the lymph nodes, age, health status and symptoms.
- Chemotherapy, radiation and bone marrow transplant are normal adopted line of treatment in modern medicine.
- Alternative therapy may help to reduce the side effects from the medical treatment. It cannot cure Hodgkin’s disease.
- Yoga, massage therapy, relaxation techniques and acupuncture may help to relive the stress.
- Healthy nutritious diet will help to fight the disease.
Prognosis
- The disease is fatal, but in many cases it is slow to progress. 70% of patients can lead healthy life for 10 to 20 years after radiotherapy, if the disease is localized.
- When the disease is widespread and more than one site is involved the prognosis is not good.