Roughly 8,000 Americans develop this illness each year. It is slightly more frequent in men than in women, and is more commonly seen in the third decade of life, after age 50. This disease is caused by overproduction of lymphoid cells. Hodgkin's Disease is highly curable, even in advanced stages.
CAUSES OF HODGKIN’S DISEASE
The cause of this illness is unknown in the majority of patients. Certain viruses like EBV or HIV have been linked to causation of Hodgkin's Disease..
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
Patients may not show any signs for sometime. As the disease progresses, it can cause any of the following problems:
• Enlargement of lymph glands
• Enlargement of spleen
• Enlargement of liver
• Anemia
• Low platelet count
• Frequent infections
• Fever
• Weight loss
• Night sweats
• Itching
STAGING
• Stage 1 is when patients develop enlargement of lymph glands in one region.
• Stage 2 is when a patient has enlargement of lymph glands in two or more regions.
• Stage 3 is when a patient develops enlargement of the spleen.
• Stage 4 s when the disease involves the liver, lung or bone marrow.
TREATMENT
Patients with stages 1 and 2 are mainly treated with radiation therapy. Higher stages are normally treated with chemotherapy, with or without radiation. A cure is possible in the vast majority of patients. The standard chemotherapy regimens for Hodgkin’s Disease are MOPP and ABVD regimens.
Certain patients are treated with Bone Marrow Transplantation:
• Patients who do not enter a remission
• Patients who relapse soon after initial remission
PREVENTION
There are no clear-cut steps established by the medical community that prevent Hodgkin's disease. A healthy lifestyle containing a balanced diet and plenty of exercise is certainly recommended for keeping your immune system strong, but this does not guarantee prevention.
Avoid becoming infected with infectious mononucleosis. According to the American Cancer Society , there is a slight increase in the chances of developing Hodgkin's disease in those who have first contracted infectious mononucleosis.
Take extra care of yourself when you are dealing with a diminished immune system. Those with AIDS or with congenital immunodeficiencies appear more likely to develop Hodgkin's disease.
Schedule regular visits with your doctor at the completion of an organ transplant. Those who have received organ transplants are commonly placed on medications that reduce the immune system's rejection of transplanted organs. This makes the body susceptible to the development of Hodgkin's disease.
