HODGKIN'S DISEASE

What is it?

The lymph nodes or glands are small lumps in your body which help you fight off disease - they are part of your immune system. All your lymph nodes are joined to each other by tiny tubes or channels. Hodgkin's disease is a type of cancer which grows in and spreads through these lymph nodes.

What causes it?

Nobody knows what causes this disease.

Who gets it?

You are most likely to get Hodgkin's disease in your teens or early 20s. Men are more at risk than women.

What symptoms am I likely to get?

You may first notice some painless lumps, usually in your neck. You may start to feel tired and weak, feverish or very itchy. Sometimes the first thing you will notice is that you are losing weight. Occasionally you may have shortness of breath or pain when you swallow, or your legs may suddenly become weak.

When should I go to my doctor?

You should make an appointment with your doctor if you get any of the above symptoms. There is often a simple explanation for them - for instance, you will often get swelling of the lymph nodes in your neck when you have a sore throat or an ear infection. Your doctor will be able to tell you if there is likely to be anything serious going on.

What tests will my Doctor want to do?

Once your GP has questioned and examined you, he or she may want to do some blood tests and possibly a chest X-ray. What other tests you will need depends on what these blood tests show. If there is any chance that you may have Hodgkin's disease, your GP will refer you to a specialist at the hospital.

What other tests will I need?

The doctors at the hospital may want to remove one of the swollen glands or take a sample of bone marrow. You will probably also need a special scan.

What is the short-term treatment?

It depends on how far the disease has spread. You may need X-ray treatment (radiotherapy), drug treatment (chemotherapy), or both. You may have to stay in hospital for this treatment because of its side-effects.

Will I need long-term treatment?

You will certainly need regular follow-ups at the hospital to make sure the disease does not come back. If it does return, you may need to have more courses of treatment.

How can I stop it getting worse?

Do not get overtired by doing too much. You should try to eat properly and get plenty of rest. As much as possible you should avoid people who have infections, such as rashes, viruses and coughs and colds. It is especially important that you go back regularly for check-ups and go to your GP with any new symptoms you are worried about.

A DOCTOR information leaflet for patients