Hodgkin’s lymphoma - Treatment

Treatment primarily depends on the following:

The type of Hodgkin's lymphoma (most people have classic Hodgkin's)

The stage (where the disease is found)

Whether the tumor is more than 4 inches (10 cm) wide

The patient's age and other medical issues

Other factors, including weight loss, night sweats, and fever

A staging evaluation is necessary to determine the treatment plan.

Stage I indicates one lymph node region is involved (for example, the right neck).

Stage II indicates involvement of two lymph node areas on the same side of the diaphragm (for example, both sides of the neck).

Stage III indicates lymph node involvement on both sides of the diaphragm (for example, groin and armpit).

Stage IV involves the spread of cancer outside the lymph nodes (for example, to bone marrow, lungs, or liver).

Treatment varies with the stage of the disease and age of the patient. The best treatment depends on each individual and should be discussed with a doctor who has experience treating this disease.

Stages I and II (limited disease) can be treated with local radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or a combination of both.

Stages III is treated with chemotherapy alone or a combination of radiation therapy and chemotherapy.

Stage IV (extensive disease) is most often treated with chemotherapy alone.

People with Hodgkin’s lymphoma that returns after treatment or does not respond to treatment may receive high-dose chemotherapy followed by an autologous bone marrow transplant (using stem cells from yourself).

Additional treatments depend on other symptoms. They may include:

Transfusion of blood products, such as platelets or red blood cells, to fight low platelet counts and anemia

Antibiotics to fight infection, especially if a fever occurs.