Hodgins lymphoma (Hodgekins lymphomia)

Lymphomia comes in many different types, well over 30. The range is divided into 5 different Hodgins lymphoma cancer types and over 25 different varieties of non-Hodgekin's lymphoma

Lymphomia cancer is the most common type of the different blood cancers and it is number three on the list of cancers in children. Lymphoma is maybe the most common of all causes of terminal cancer in the US, with around 50,000 Americans diagnosed every year.

Lymph Nodes

A normal lymph node is a small bean-sized unit responsible for catching cells with waste products that need cleaning out of the system. These nodes also hold an army of cells that will send out antibodies to fight hostile micro organisms when required. The lymph nodes are connected with a separate vessel system in which the fluid (lymph) is kept, this is what allowes the lymphocytes travel freely. When these lymphocytes (white blood cells) start to grow in numbers in an abnormal way, they will affect the lymph nodes so they grow in size. Some forms of lymphoma can interfere with the production of blood cells, via the bone marrow, with anemia as result (low number or red blood cells).

Hodgkin's or non-Hodgkins

One grouping is based on the development of the disease and what type of lymphocytes affected. With this method, there are two groups: The Hodgkin's disease and the non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Hodgin's lymphoma disease

Around three quarters of patients diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease will actually recover completely. Approximately 9 out of 10 of patients who are diagnosed with early-stage disease and more than every second patient in the more advanced stage are today living more than 10 years after treatment and with no symptoms of the disease recurring. When planning the proper treatment of lymphomia, it is very important to consider the stage of the disease at the time of diagnosis. Some treatments can successfully give the patient first an aggressive chemotherapy mix and then follow up with the introduction of young healthy cells from the bone marrow, this is what is referred to as a bone marrow transplant. This type of treatment can be very efficient in increasing the chances of extending the patient's life. Using bone marrow transplant is almost mandatory for a patient where the disease comes back after having undergone chemotherapy.

Symptoms of Hodgins lymphoma

The symptoms of Hodgins (Hodgekins) disease are often a swollowing of the lymph nodes in the neck/throat, they grow and feel like enlarged, firm lumps. Sometimes the symptoms of swollen lymph nodes can appear in other nodes such as the internal ones in the chest or stomach. 

The location of the lymphomia will control the type of signs (symptoms) that show up. Large swollen, often unilateral lymph nodes on the throad will rarely give any other symptoms than that they are there and you wonder what they are. A tumor in the stomach can cause different types of pain and if the lymphoma is located in the chest/lungs you may encounter breathing problems.

Hodgins (Hodgkins) lymphoma is often connected to so called B symptoms. This means that there is a general effect on the body, irrespective of where the tumor is located. These symptoms of lymphomia can be fatigue, weight loss, high temperatures and sweating at night.

Diagnosis of Hodgekins disease

In order to diagnose the condition, a cel sample from the tumor is always required. When the tumor is contained in the lymph nodes on the throat, it is often simple to remove whole or a part of the affected lymph node, while a tumor in other internal organs require surgery or biopsy to get a sample.

When looking at the cell sample from lymphomia in a microscope, it is possible to distinguish between four different types of Hodgins lymphoma that are all treated somewhat differently, although there are similarities.