Hodgkin Lymphoma
Hodgkin lymphoma is a cancer of lymphocytes that usually begins in lymph nodes. A persistent painless swelling can be a clue, but diagnosis requires a biopsy because infections and other lymphomas can look similar.
Key takeaways
- Persistent enlarged nodes, unexplained fever, drenching night sweats or weight loss warrant clinical assessment.
- Biopsy establishes the diagnosis; scans and other tests then determine stage and treatment intensity.
- Treatment commonly uses a multi-medicine regimen, sometimes with radiotherapy, and requires oncology monitoring.
The catalogue cannot diagnose or stage lymphoma, and an individual medicine is not a complete regimen; pathology, stage and fitness guide specialist care.
How is Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosed?
An enlarged node may occur in the neck, armpit or groin. Excision or adequate tissue biopsy lets a pathologist identify the characteristic cells. Imaging maps involved areas, while blood tests and clinical features help treatment planning.
What determines treatment?
Stage, tumour bulk, symptoms, age and organ function shape the regimen. Chlorambucil has limited roles in selected circumstances rather than being a standard stand-alone treatment. Fertility, infection risk and longer-term effects should be discussed within oncology support.
When to seek urgent care
Seek urgent help for breathing or swallowing difficulty, rapidly enlarging neck swelling, fainting, severe weakness, uncontrolled bleeding, or fever with marked illness during treatment.