The best way to diagnose and treat Hodgkin's disease in its early stage when it is most treatable is to seek regular medical care throughout the lifetime. Regular medical care allows a health care professional to best evaluate the risks of developing Hodgkin's disease and assess symptoms, such as a swollen lymph gland, and begin prompt diagnostic testing and treatment. It is also important to seek prompt medical care for any symptoms of Hodgkin's disease, such as enlarged lymph glands.
The general goal of treatment of Hodgkin's disease is to bring about a complete remission of the disease, in which there is no longer any sign of the disease in the body.
Treatment plans for Hodgkin's disease are individualized for each person's specific case. Treatment plans are based on the stage of advancement, a person's medical history, age, coexisting diseases, and other factors. Treatment for Hodgkin's disease is best delivered by a team of specialists in Hodgkin's disease care. These specialists include hematology oncologists, hematologists, and registered nurses who specialize in cancer and Hodgkin's disease care.
Treatment may require a combination of chemotherapy, radiation therapy and stem cell transplant. It may also be recommended that a person with Hodgkin's disease enroll in a clinical trial that is testing promising new therapies and treatments for Hodgkin's disease.
The list of treatments mentioned in various sources for Hodgkin's Disease includes the following list. Always seek professional medical advice about any treatment or change in treatment plans.
The first step in getting correct treatment is to get a correct diagnosis. Differential diagnosis list for Hodgkin's Disease may include:
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Some of the different medications used in the treatment of Hodgkin's Disease include:
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The doctor develops a treatment plan to fit each patient's needs. Treatment for Hodgkin's disease depends on the stage of the disease, the size of the enlarged lymph nodes, which symptoms are present, the age and general health of the patient, and other factors. (Source: excerpt from What You Need To Know About Hodgkin's Disease: NCI)
Patients with Hodgkin's disease may be vaccinated against the flu, pneumonia, and meningitis. They should discuss a vaccination plan with their health care provider. (Source: excerpt from What You Need To Know About Hodgkin's Disease: NCI)
Hodgkin's disease is usually treated with radiation therapy or chemotherapy . The doctors may decide to use one treatment method or a combination of methods. (Source: excerpt from What You Need To Know About Hodgkin's Disease: NCI)
Radiation therapy and chemotherapy are the most common treatments for Hodgkin's disease, although bone marrow transplantation , peripheral stem cell transplantation , and biological therapies are being studied in clinical trials.
Radiation therapy (also called radiotherapy) is the use of high-energy rays to kill cancer cells. Depending on the stage of the disease, treatment with radiation may be given alone or with chemotherapy. Radiation therapy is local therapy ; it affects cancer cells only in the treated area. Radiation treatment for Hodgkin's disease usually involves external radiation , which comes from a machine that aims the rays at a specific area of the body. External radiation does not cause the body to become radioactive. Most often, treatment is given on an outpatient basis in a hospital or clinic.
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These are some questions a patient may want to ask the doctor before having radiation therapy:
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Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy for Hodgkin's disease usually consists of a combination of several drugs. It may be given alone or followed by radiation therapy.
Chemotherapy is usually given in cycles: a treatment period followed by a recovery period, then another treatment period, and so on. Most anticancer drugs are given by injection into a blood vessel (IV ); some are given by mouth.Chemotherapy is a systemic therapy , meaning that the drugs enter the bloodstream and travel throughout the body.
Usually, a patient has chemotherapy as an outpatient (at the hospital, at the doctor's office, or at home). However, depending on which drugs are given and the patient's general health, a short hospital stay may be needed. (Source: excerpt from What You Need To Know About Hodgkin's Disease: NCI)
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