Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL)
- Is a cancer that affects the lymphatic system, which is part of the body's immune system
- Is one of the most curable forms of cancer
- Is named for Dr. Thomas Hodgkin who, in 1832, described several cases of people with symptoms of a cancer involving the lymph nodes. The disease was called "Hodgkin's disease" until it was officially renamed "Hodgkin lymphoma" in the late 20th century.
Click here to access Hodgkin lymphoma statistics.
What You Should Know
- Hodgkin lymphoma results from a change to the DNA of a lymphocyte, a type of white blood cell.
- Hematologists and oncologists are specialists who treat people who have Hodgkin lymphoma or other types of blood cancer.
- Treatment for Hodgkin lymphoma includes chemotherapy and/or radiation, depending on individual patient factors.
- Stem cell transplantation is also a treatment option, but it is not recommended for initial treatment.
What You Should Do
- Talk with your doctor about your diagnostic tests and what the results mean.
- Be sure you know your Hodgkin lymphoma subtype because different subtypes have different treatments.
To download lists of suggested questions to ask your healthcare providers, click here.
How Does Hodgkin Lymphoma Develop?
Hodgkin lymphoma starts when an abnormal change to the DNA of a white blood cell (called a lymphocyte) causes it to become a lymphoma cell that, if untreated, results in the uncontrolled growth of cancerous lymphocytes.
- These cancerous cells crowd out normal white cells, and the immune system can't guard against infection effectively.
- Lymphoma cells grow and form masses, usually in the lymph nodes, located throughout our bodies in the lymphatic system.
- Lymphoma cells can also gather in other areas of the body where lymphoid tissue is found.
- Hodgkin lymphoma is distinguished from other types of lymphoma by the presence of Reed-Sternberg cells (named for the scientists who first identified them). Other cells associated with the disease are called Hodgkin cells. Hodgkin cells are larger than normal lymphocytes but smaller than RS cells. These differences can be observed under a microscope and further identified by special pathology tests. This is important information that helps doctors determine a patient’s HL subtype.
Risk Factors
For most people who have Hodgkin lymphoma, the exact cause is not known, but the following risk factors may increase a person's likelihood of developing Hodgkin lymphoma:
- The Epstein-Bar virus, known for causing mononucleosis, is associated with the development of Hodgkin lymphoma. Approximately 30 percent of Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg (RS) cells carry the EBV virus in Western populations.
- People infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have increased probability of developing Hodgkin lymphoma.
- There are occasional cases of Hodgkin lymphoma in families. Having a parent or a sibling with Hodgkin lymphoma may increase the risk of developing the disease. These cases are uncommon, but some experts are studying whether some people have a genetic predisposition to Hodgkin lymphoma.
You can not catch the disease from someone else.
Source: Hodgkin Lymphoma. Reviewed by John P. Leonard, MD.
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