blood disorders
Hodgkin Lymphoma
Introduction
Hodgkin lymphoma is a cancer of a type of White Blood Cells called lymphocytes and is distinguished from other lymphomas by the presence of a particular kind of cancer cell called a Reed-Sternberg cell. The cause is unknown. Lymph nodes enlarge but are usually not painful. Other symptoms such as fever, itching, and shortness of breath can develop depending on where the cancer cells are growing. A lymph node biopsy is needed for diagnosis. Chemotherapy, combinations of chemotherapy and immunotherapy, and radiation therapy are used for treatment. Most people are cured. (See also Overview of Lymphoma and Lymphomas are cancers of a specific type of white blood cells known as Acquired Immunity . These cells help fight infections. Lymphomas can develop from either B or T lymphocytes, the two main types of lymphocyte. T lymphocytes are important in regulating the immune system and in fighting viral infections. B lymphocytes produce In the United States, about 8,500 new cases of Hodgkin lymphoma occur every year. The disease is more common in males than in females—about three men are affected for every two women. Hodgkin lymphoma rarely occurs before age 10. It is most common in people between the ages of 15 and 40 and in people older than 60. 