Treatment FAQ

how effective is hodkins disease treatment

by Hope Hoppe Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Medication

Two cycles of doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine plus extended-field radiotherapy is superior to radiotherapy alone in early favorable Hodgkin's lymphoma: final results of the GHSG HD7 trial. J Clin Oncol. 2007 Aug 10. 25 (23):3495-502. [Medline]. [Full Text].

Procedures

The prognosis of Hodgkin's disease (HD) has improved impressively in the past decade. Presently, no stage of disease is beyond cure or expectancy of a long disease-free survival.

Therapy

See Second Cancers After Hodgkin Lymphoma for more on this. A possible long-term effect of chemotherapy and radiation therapy , especially in younger patients, is reduced or lost fertility.

Self-care

Chemo drugs enter the bloodstream and travel throughout the body to reach and destroy cancer cells wherever they may be. Chemo is the main treatment for most people with Hodgkin lymphoma (other than some people with nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma , or NLPHL).

Nutrition

What are the treatment options for Hodgkin's lymphoma (Hodgkin disease)?

What is the prognosis of Hodgkin's disease?

What are the long-term effects of Hodgkin lymphoma treatment?

How does chemotherapy work for Hodgkin lymphoma?

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How successful is treatment for Hodgkin's lymphoma?

Occasionally, chemotherapy may be combined with steroid medicine. Surgery isn't generally used to treat the condition, except for the biopsy used to diagnose it. Overall, treatment for Hodgkin lymphoma is highly effective and most people with the condition are eventually cured.

How effective is chemotherapy for Hodgkin lymphoma?

Usually chemotherapy works very well for most people with Hodgkin lymphoma. But sometimes the lymphoma may not completely respond to the treatment. If this happens it can still be treated successfully. Your doctor may talk to you about having more intensive chemotherapy with a stem cell transplant.

How long does it take to cure Hodgkin's lymphoma?

A typical chemotherapy regime for Hodgkin lymphoma might involve around six cycles of a combination of drugs, given over a period of six months. There are many different ways of giving chemotherapy.

Can you beat Hodgkin's lymphoma?

The one-year survival rate for all patients diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma is about 92 percent. The five-year survival rate is about 86 percent. For people with stage 4 Hodgkin's lymphoma, the survival rate is lower. But even in stage 4 you can beat the disease.

What is the life expectancy of someone with Hodgkin's lymphoma?

Survival rates can give you an idea of what percentage of people with the same type and stage of cancer are still alive a certain amount of time (usually 5 years) after they were diagnosed....5-year relative survival rates for Hodgkin lymphoma.SEER Stage5-Year Relative Survival RateAll SEER stages combined88%3 more rows•Mar 2, 2022

Can you live a long life after lymphoma?

Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common type of high grade lymphoma. Generally for people with DLBCL: 60 in 100 people (60%) will survive 5 years or more after their diagnosis.

Which is worse Hodgkins or non Hodgkins?

The prognosis of Hodgkin's lymphoma is also better than that of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma since non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is often diagnosed at a more advanced stage. Both forms of blood cancer are treatable when caught early, however.

Can Hodgkin's be cured without chemo?

If the initial treatment was radiation therapy alone, chemotherapy is usually given for recurrent disease. If chemotherapy without radiation therapy was used first, and the cancer comes back only in the lymph nodes, radiation to the lymph nodes can be done, with or without more chemo.

Does Hodgkins lymphoma return?

A small proportion of people with Hodgkin lymphoma or with other types of high-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma might also relapse. Most relapses of Hodgkin lymphoma or high-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma happen within the first 2 years after treatment. As time goes on, relapse generally becomes less likely.

Can you live 20 years with lymphoma?

Most people with indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma will live 20 years after diagnosis. Faster-growing cancers (aggressive lymphomas) have a worse prognosis. They fall into the overall five-year survival rate of 60%.

Do people survive Hodgkin's lymphoma?

The 5-year survival rate for all people with Hodgkin lymphoma in the United States is 88%. If the cancer is found in its earliest stages, the 5-year survival rate is 91%. If the cancer spreads regionally, the 5-year survival rate is 94%.

What foods should you avoid if you have lymphoma?

Avoid foods that are high in saturated fats from animal products such as meats, butters, and cheeses. Also limit trans fats that are found in processed food cooked in hydrogenated fats. These types of foods include crackers, potato chips, baked goods, and deep-fried fast foods.

How to treat lymphoma after treatment?

Treatment for HL should remove all traces of the lymphoma. After treatment, the doctor will do tests such as PET/CT scans to look for any signs of HL. If HL is still there, most experts think that more of the same treatment is unlikely to cure it.

What to do if you have HL?

If HL is still there after these treatments, most doctors would recommend high-dose chemo (and possibly radiation) followed by an autologous stem cell transplant, if it can be done. If cancer still remains after this, an allogeneic stem cell transplant may be an option.

What is the best treatment for stem cell transplant?

For those who don’t respond to treatment, chemo using different drugs or high-dose chemo (and possibly radiation) followed by a stem cell transplant may be recommended. Treatment with an immunotherapy drug such as brentuximab vedotin (Adcetris), nivolumab (Opdivo), or pembrolizumab (Keytruda) might be another option.

How many cycles of chemo for ABVD?

Treatment is generally more intense than that for favorable disease. It typically starts with chemotherapy (usually with the ABVD regimen for 4 to 6 cycles or other regimens such as 3 cycles of Stanford V). PET/CT scans are often done after several cycles of chemo to see if (and how much) more treatment is needed.

Why do you need a PET scan after chemo?

If a person can’t have chemotherapy because of other health issues , radiation therapy alone may be an option.

Can radiation cure lymphoma?

This holds true no matter how long ago the radiation was first given. If the lymphoma returns after many years, using the same or different chemo drugs (possibly along with radiation) might still cure it. On the other hand, HL that recurs soon after treatment may need more intensive treatment.

Can HL recur after treatment?

On the other hand, HL that recurs soon after treatment may need more intensive treatment . For example, if the HL has returned within a few months of the original treatment, high-dose chemo (and possibly radiation) followed by an autologous stem cell transplant may be recommended.

What is the goal of Hodgkin's lymphoma treatment?

The goal of treatment is to destroy as many cancer cells as possible and bring the disease into remission.

What is the procedure to remove Hodgkin's lymphoma?

A bone marrow biopsy and aspiration procedure involves inserting a needle into your hipbone to remove a sample of bone marrow. The sample is analyzed to look for Hodgkin's lymphoma cells. Other tests and procedures may be used depending on your situation.

What are the stages of Hodgkin's lymphoma?

Stages of Hodgkin's lymphoma include: Stage I. The cancer is limited to one lymph node region or a single organ. Stage II. In this stage, the cancer is in two lymph node regions or the cancer has invaded one organ and the nearby lymph nodes.

What tests are done to detect Hodgkin's lymphoma?

Tests may include X-ray, CT and positron emission tomography. Removing a lymph node for testing. Your doctor may recommend a lymph node biopsy procedure to remove a lymph node for laboratory testing.

How does chemotherapy work?

Chemotherapy drugs can be taken in pill form or through a vein in your arm, or sometimes both methods of administration are used. Several combinations of chemotherapy drugs are used to treat Hodgkin's lymphoma. Side effects of chemotherapy depend on the drugs you're given. Common side effects are nausea and hair loss.

Where is Hodgkin's lymphoma stage IV?

Cancer may also be in one portion of tissue or an organ near the lymph node groups or in the spleen. Stage IV. This is the most advanced stage of Hodgkin's lymphoma. Cancer cells are in several portions of one or more organs and tissues.

How long does radiation treatment last?

A typical treatment plan might have you going to the hospital or clinic five days a week for several weeks. At each visit, you undergo a 30-minute radiation treatment.

What is the treatment for Hodgkin lymphoma?

Chemo is the main treatment for most people with Hodgkin lymphoma (other than some people with nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma, or NLPHL). Sometimes chemo is followed by radiation therapy. Chemo is given in cycles that include a period of treatment followed by a rest period to give the body time to recover.

How does chemo help with Hodgkin lymphoma?

Chemotherapy for Hodgkin Lymphoma. Chemotherapy (chemo) is the use of drugs to kill cancer cells. Chemo is usually injected into a vein under the skin or taken as a pill. Chemo drugs enter the bloodstream and travel throughout the body to reach and destroy cancer cells wherever they may be. Chemo is the main treatment for most people ...

How long does chemo last?

In general, each cycle lasts for several weeks. Most chemo treatments are given in the doctor’s office, clinic, or hospital outpatient department, but some may require a hospital stay.

What is the most common treatment for CHL?

The combinations used to treat cHL are often referred to by abbreviations. ABVD is the most common regimen used in the United States: Adriamycin (doxorubicin) Bleomycin. Vinblastine. Dacarbazine (DTIC) Other common regimens include:

Can bleomycin damage the heart?

For example: Doxorubicin can damage the heart, so your doctor may order tests to check your heart function before and during treatment with this drug. Bleomycin can damage the lungs, so some doctors order tests of lung function (called pulmonary function tests) before starting patients on this drug.

Is Adcetris a chemo drug?

Another drug that can be considered as chemo is brentuximab vedotin (Adcetris). This is an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), which is a monoclonal antibody attached to a chemo drug. For more on this drug, see Immunotherapy for Hodgkin Lymphoma.

What to do if you have HL?

Treatments such as chemo, radiation, or removal of the spleen (splenectomy) can add to this problem. (Splenectomy was once commonly done, but is now rarely needed.) Patients who have their spleen removed should get vaccinated against certain bacteria. All people who have had HL should keep up with their flu shots .

What are the best ways to lower blood pressure?

It’s important to do what you can to help lower your risk, such as not smoking, staying at a healthy weight, being active, and eating a healthy diet. It’s also important to have regular check-ups with your doctor and get treated if you have high blood pressure.

Can HL cause second cancer?

Second cancers. One uncommon but very serious side effect of HL treatment is developing a second type of cancer later on. People who've had HL have a higher risk for many types of cancer. See Second Cancers After Hodgkin Lymphoma for more on this.

What are the long term effects of Hodgkin's lymphoma?

Long-term survivors of Hodgkin's lymphoma are at increased risk for a number of late complications, including development of second malignancies and cardiovascular disease. Treatment-related factors and other modifying risk factors contributing to the risk of late effects have been identified.

Is Hodgkin's lymphoma a late effect?

Long-term survivors of Hodgkin's lymphoma are at increased risk for a number of late complications, including development of second malignancies and cardiovascular disease. Treatment-related factors and other modifying risk factors contributing to the risk of late effects have been identified. Survivors deemed at increased risk based on their treatment history and other exposures may benefit from early detection for late complications and risk reduction strategies. However, the optimal screening tests and prevention program, and their timing and frequency are not clear. It should be noted that treatment for Hodgkin's lymphoma has undergone considerable changes over the last several decades. Most of the current data on late effects after Hodgkin's lymphoma are based on patients treated with outdated chemotherapy and radiation therapy. As Hodgkin's lymphoma therapy evolve over time, continued documentation of late effects associated with newer treatment will be important for the follow-up of patients treated in the modern era.

Does HL go away?

For some people, HL may never go away completely. These people may get regular treatments with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or other therapies to help control it for as long as possible and to help relieve symptoms. Learning to live with HL that doesn't go away can be difficult and very stressful.

Do supplements help with HL?

About dietary supplements. So far, no dietary supplements (including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products) have been shown to clearly help lower the risk of HL progressing or coming back. This doesn’t mean that no supplements will help, but it’s important to know that none have been proven to do so.

Does Hodgkin lymphoma come back?

If Hodgkin lymphoma comes back. If Hodgkin lymphoma does come back ( recurs) at some point, your treatment options will depend on where the lymphoma is, what treatments you’ve had before, how long it’s been since treatment, and your current health and preferences.

Can you go back to follow up after HL?

Follow-up after Hodgkin Lymphoma. Even if you’ve completed treatment, your doctors will still want to watch you closely. It’s very important to go to all your follow-up appointments because HL can sometimes come back even many years after treatment. Some treatment side effects might last a long time or might not even show up ...

Can Hodgkin lymphoma be cured?

For many people with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), treatment can cure the lymphoma. Completing treatment can be both stressful and exciting. You may be relieved to finish treatment, but find it hard not to worry about the lymphoma coming back. (When cancer comes back after treatment, it's called a recurrence .)

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Diagnosis

Treatment

Clinical Trials

Alternative Medicine

Medically reviewed by
Dr. Rakshith Bharadwaj
Your provider will work with you to develop a care plan that may include one or more of these treatment options.
Choice of treatment is based on the stage of lymphoma, severity, and overall health of the patient. Treatments include medications, radiation therapy, and bone marrow transplant.
Medication

Chemotherapy: Drugs to kill cancer cells.

Adriamycin . Bleomycin . Vinblastine . Dacarbazine

Procedures

Bone marrow transplantation: Also known as stem cell transplant, the therapy involves introducing healthy bone marrow stem cells from a donor.

Therapy

Radiation therapy:Uses high energy waves to destroy cancer cells.

Self-care

Always talk to your provider before starting anything.

  • Learn about the disease.
  • Get adequate rest.
  • Eat a healthy and nutritious diet.
  • Remain physically active.

Nutrition

Foods to eat:

  • Foods low in saturated fat: e.g. fish, lean meat, skinless poultry, eggs, nonfat and low-fat dairy products, nuts, seeds, legumes
  • Drink plenty of fluids: e.g. water, soup

Foods to avoid:

  • NA

Specialist to consult

Oncologist
Specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
Hematologist
Specializes in the study of the blood and blood disorders.

Coping and Support

Preparing For Your Appointment

  • The goal of Hodgkin's lymphoma treatment is to destroy as many of the lymphoma cells as possible and bring the disease into remission. Which treatments are right for you depends on the type and stage of your cancer, your overall health, and your preferences.
See more on mayoclinic.org

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