According to the American Cancer Society more than 8,500 americans are diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma each year occurring in people aged between 16 and 34 years of age and those over the age of 55. Lymphoma is a term defined as a type of cancer that develops in the lymphatic system which is part of our immune system. Hodgkins Lymphoma starts off by first developing in the white blood cells, developing in the lymph nodes and then spreading to any organ which includes the skin and bone marrow. To better understand Hodgkins Lymphoma we will take an in depth look as to how this disease is categorized, the different treatments currently available with how they affect the body and current studies that show newer techniques for …show more content…
Dr. Stephen Ansell states that "Hodgkins Lymphoma is an uncommon B-Cell malignancy"(Ansell.......). When a B-Cell becomes mature it is called a plasma cell which produces antibodies (proteins) necessary to fight off infections while other B cells mature into memory B cells. Memory B cells are ones in which
Types: There are two main types of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma along with several subtypes; depending on the appearance of lymph cells and how many Reed Sternberg cells are present.
I: Classical: The most common type of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma accounts for approximately 95% of cases and is also one of the most curable.
Subtype: Nodular sclerosing Hodgkin’s Lymphoma is the most common subtype affecting 60-80% of cases. The affected lymph nodes have a mixture of normal cells, Reed Sternberg cells and scar …show more content…
The letters A and B indicate the presence or absence of certain symptoms. The letters E and S refer to the spread of the cancer beyond the lymph nodes:
A & B: The letter “B” is used if any of the following symptoms are present: unexplained weight loss, drenching night sweats, or fever. The letter “A” is used if there is no evidence of B symptoms. If the disease is considered “bulky” (with large tumors, greater than 10 cm in size, spanning the chest region), it is designated with an “X.”
E & S: Extranodal cancers that have spread beyond the lymph nodes into other tissues or organs are indicated by the letter “E.” An extranodal cancer that has spread to the spleen is indicated by the letter “S.” Approximately 30 percent of people with Hodgkin lymphoma will develop an enlarged spleen (splenomegaly).
Staging: Classifying Hodgkin’s Lymphoma by how much of the disease is already in the body and where it has spread. Once diagnosed and treatments have begun the staging level remains the same. Stage I: "early stage" Only found in one lymph region. Stage II: "Locally advanced disease" Found in two or more lymph node regions or on one side of the diaphragm. Stage III: "Advanced" Lymph nodes above or below the diaphragm or one lymph node area and one organ on the opposite sides of the diaphragm. Stage IV: "Widespread disease" Lymphoma outside the nodes, spleen and has spread to one or more areas;