Hodgkin's Lymphoma or Hodgkins Disease - Research Paper Example

? Hodgkin's Lymphoma of Cancer remains one of the leading killer diseases across the globe despite the unwavering effort medical researchers direct towards its eradication. The term “cancer” is a general name for the type of diseases bearing similar features, but it differs from one part of the body to another. This paper will discuss one type of cancer called Hodgkin’s lymphoma, which affects the lymphocytes excreted in the lymph nodes. In addition, the paper will explore in great detail the history as to the naming of the cancer and the specific parts of the body it affects. The paper will further investigate the causes, symptoms, prognosis, and treatment of the Hodgkin’s lymphoma and the consequences likely to follow its treatment. Introduction Since its discovery, cancer has proved to be one of the most dreaded diseases in the world given the difficulty of its treatment and the longitudinal pain that accompanies its development and spread in an individual’s body. There are various types of cancers classified and differentiated in accordance with the affected parts of the body. Naming of every type of cancer corresponds with the specific part of the body affected by the cancerous cells. Hodgkin’s lymphoma, otherwise called Hodgkin’s disease, is one of the many types of cancers. The disease was first discovered in 1832 by Thomas Hodgkin who noticed it by describing the abnormalities that occurred in the lymph system (Lowry & Linch, 2011). Hodgkin’s lymphoma attacks the lymphocytes, or the white blood cells, that constitute the human immune system. The lymphocytes emanate from clear and yellowish fluid component called the lymph. The naming of this type of cancer attaches to the key person behind its discovery and the specific system of the body it affects, thus the identity of Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Lowry and Linch (2011) assert that Hodgkin’s lymphoma affects a system of body parts collectively known as the lymphatic system. During its development, the particular affected cell becomes abnormal – a condition usually referred to as the Reed-Sternberg cell. The Reed-Sternberg cell then divides to make its own copies, which later divides again and again resulting in many abnormal cells. The multiple abnormal cells do not die easily; instead, they grow to form more complex cells that do not help in body defense. Continued build-up of the abnormal cells results in the formation of abnormal tissue referred to as growth or tumor that finally develops into a cancer of the lymph. The various lymphatic systems susceptible to the Hodgkin’s lymphoma include the lymph nodes, lymph and lymph vessels. Nashed (2007) elaborates that lymph vessels constitute a network of the lymphatic system that branches into all tissues of an individual’s body. Lymph is usually a clear fluid carried by and transported through the lymphatic vessels. Lymph fluid contains white blood cells, mainly the lymphocytes that include B and T cells. Lymph nodes, on the other hand, include small round masses usually found in the underarms, neck, chest, abdomen and groin among other body parts. The lymph nodes help in the storage of the lymphocyte cells as well as in filtering and removing bacteria and impurities that may be present in the lymph. As reported by Fagnoni, Milpied, Limat, Deconinck, Nerich, Foussard, and Woronoff-Lemsi (2009), other parts of the body that also constitute the lymphatic system include the skin, stomach, small intestines, spleen, thymus, tonsils and bone marrow. Following the intense network of the lymphatic system, Hodgkin’s lymphoma can begin to attack almost any part of the body from where it may spread to other parts. However, this type of cancer often starts in the neck from where it spreads in a predictable and orderly manner from one group of lymph nodes to the immediate next group of nodes. Causes of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Development of the lymphoma begins with changes in the structure of the Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) of the B lymphocyte cell. The cancer begins to develop due to the genetic mutation in the affected body cell. Mutation will then reverse the DNA instructions and redirect them for continued growth of the given body cell. This continued growth then makes the victim cell to divide and multiply uncontrollably (Lowry & Linch, 2011). The defect occurs in one group of the lymph nodes and later spreads to the other immediate groups of similar lymph nodes. Risk factors that make an individual more susceptible to the disease include unfavorable medical conditions such as being HIV/AIDs positive, which weakens the immune system of the body. Reports of the Clinical Trial News (2006) indicate that another risk factor is when an individual undergoes medical treatments that involve the use of immunosuppressant drugs, especially after an organ transplant. Previous exposure to radiotherapy or chemotherapy as a process of treating unrelated cancer can also lead to one contracting Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Furthermore, previous exposure to a virus called Epstein-Barr (EBV) can also increase the risks of developing Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Epstein-Barr virus is known to cause glandular fever. Hodgkin’s lymphomas occur in two sets of age groups with one developing in individuals between the ages of 15 to 40 while the other develops in individuals above 55 years. Symptoms Just like any other form of cancer, Hodgkin’s lymphoma depicts particular symptoms during its development in an individual’s body system. One of the symptoms includes feelings of fatigue and exhaustion. Affected persons will also feel repeated chills and fever that do not last for a long period. Acute coughing, breathing problems and chest pains may occur especially in the cases where an individual patient has swollen lymph nodes in the chest. Alcoholic victims may also undergo pains of the lymph nodes especially after drinking alcohol. Individual patients of Hodgkin’s lymphoma may also experience tragic loss of appetite and unexplainable loss of body weight. Itchy body may also classify among the many symptoms of the cancer. In addition, patients are likely to undergo excessive sweating especially during night hours. Some patients of Hodgkin’s lymphoma may witness development of painless swollen glands in the neck, groin and armpits. In some cases, an individual may start feeling severe pain in the abdomen and ribs especially when spleen and liver are swollen. Prognosis Though dangerous, Hodgkin’s lymphoma is one type of cancer that is easily cured. The ease of treatment of this disease relies on early detection. Patients on late stages of the disease counting to five years can still be treated of the cancer. Patients diagnosed with stages 1 and 2 of the disease are likely to have five years of survival, a period that has been investigated averages between 90-95% of the patients (Deustch, 2004). There are, however, various factors that require determination before determining the actual type of prognosis to engage an individual patient. Such factors include the type of the Hodgkin’s lymphoma and the particular stage of the disease. General health, age of the patient and the probable response to the treatment constitute other factors in the prognosis of the Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Before inducing an individual patient to particular treatment, the particular doctor has to rely on the prognosis data collected by researchers regarding the cancer. The doctor then has to weigh the options in relevance and close relation to the available information. Staging Staging refers to the act of categorizing one’s disease into one of the four stages that give a general and comprehensive idea of how far the disease has spread and how it should be treated. Hodgkin’s lymphoma develops in four successive stages before it can kill the individual patient. In stage I, the disease is normally present in one or more groups of the lymph, usually in organs that do not belong to the lymphatic system (Fagnoni et al., 2009). In stage II, tumor starts developing in two groups of the lymph nodes that lie on the same side as diaphragm. Organs known not be part of the lymphatic system but lying near the affected lymph nodes may also be affected. Stage III involves the spreading of the disease to affect groups of lymph nodes located on both sides of the diaphragm, and other adjacent organs. Involvement of the spleen during the spread constitutes the third stage of the disease. Stage IV entails the infection of the liver, lungs and bone marrow as well as other organs far away from the involved nodes. Treatment As outlined by Kaufman et al. (2011), treatment process of the Hodgkin’s disease depends on various factors such as the stage and type of the cancer. The overall health condition of the particular patient and the individual preference may also factor in when diagnosing treatment for the disease. Despite of the mode of the treatment, the main goal in the treatment process is usually to kill as many Reed-Sternberg cells as possible. One of the treatment modalities involves chemotherapy whereby chemical drugs are made to travel in an individual’s bloodstream while killing the lymphoma cells. Chemotherapy drugs can be in injected into the vein of an individual victim or swallowed in form of pills. In normal circumstances, victims undergoing early stages of the Hodgkin’s disease may undergo treatment involving combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. According to Fagnoni et al. (2009), another treatment option is through radiotherapy involving highly charged electron beams such as X-rays and gamma rays purposed to kill the lymphoma cells. During radiotherapy, a patient lies on the table facing upwards as a machine producing the beams moves on top while directing the rays on the affected parts of the body. Radiotherapy supplements chemotherapy as it is often used after later process. Solitary application of radiotherapy is common in patients in the early stages of the disease. Stem cell transplant is yet another modality in the treatment efforts of the disease. The process involves removal of an individual’s blood stem cells used to develop the newer cells in regard to the affected body part. Deustch (2004) reiterates that before transplant, an individual receives high doses of chemotherapy to help kill and destroy the potential lymphoma cells. The next step in this process involves injection of the resultant stem cells into the blood stream of the patient. The injected stem cells then help in the development of newer and healthier bone marrow devoid of any abnormal cells. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) constitutes another diagnostic technique in quest to heal Hodgkin’s lymphoma. MRI is a test process that involves the use of magnetic fields to take images of the internal organs of a patient’s body. The fact that MRI does not use radiation makes it a safer alternative in the diagnosis of the Hodgkin’s lymphoma. When applying this test, surrounding metals or those implanted in the body of the patient should be removed. To enhance clarity on the imaged part, doctors do apply iodine on the targeted parts, which also increases warmth to the patient (Lakamon, 2011). During the test, the patient lies on a table made to move into the center of the magnet. Prior to moving into the magnet, an individual patient has to wear ear plugs that help in reducing noise. Another diagnostic method involves the use of Positron Emission Tomography (PET), which uses fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) to scan and assess the body of the individual patient. This technique helps specifically in the detection of the diseases during both pretreatment and post treatment. Pretreatment PET helps in establishing the extent of spread of this disease in the body of the individual victim. Post-treatment PET, on the other hand, helps detect the level of regression and general response to medication. Computed tomography (CT) is still another technique of diagnosing Hodgkin’s lymphoma in the patient’s body. CT can scan the pelvis, neck, thorax and abdomen to determine the disease regression and response during treatment. Though appropriate, CT has some limitations that make it infective method in the treatment of this disease. One of the limitations is that it cannot detect or locate small lesions especially within the surroundings of solid and hard organs (Lakamon, 2011). Additional limitation of CT is that it can only assess the size of the tumor and offers no information about cellular function. Precursor Effects The treatment process of Hodgkin’s lymphoma that involves chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy is likely to result in severe pains in the other parts of the body. Nashed (2007) posits that exposure to the toxic radiations in an attempt to kill and sterilize the Reed-Sternberg cells may, in turn, kill some cells in the bone marrow, thus resulting to related diseases like leukemia. Furthermore, exposure to toxic radiations and the chemicals involved during chemotherapy may affect the testicles or other reproductive system and result in infertility to the victim. Effects on the reproductive system may also extend to include genetic mutation, which may witness development reproduction of abnormal offspring (Nashed, 2007). After treatment complications from the Hodgkin’s lymphoma may also include heart diseases and lung problems. There can also be thyroid problems to the individual victim. Moreover, exposure to the harmful radiation and general treatment process to this disease may lead to the development of other types of cancer brought about by the death of other body cells. Female victims whose chests get exposed to the radiation are likely to catch breast cancer later after the treatment. Precursor effects may also involve a reduced number of blood cells that have consequence of causing increased bleeding, anemia and high risks of infection (Clinical Trial News, 2006). Conclusion Hodgkin’s lymphoma, also known as Hodgkin’s disease, is a type of cancer that affects the lymphatic system of individuals. This cancer suppresses the immune system of an individual considering the fact that it affects particularly the white blood cells that provide defense for the body. This type of cancer develops due to various factors, the major of which is genetic mutation. Mutation then reverses instructions coded from the DNA leading to continued and uncontrolled growth of the lymphoma cells. Conclusive research unveils that individuals who are HIV/AIDs positive, have ever been attacked by the EBV, or exposed to radiations and chemotherapy, are very susceptible to the disease. Treatment of the disease basically entails exposure of an individual to radiations targeted at killing the malignant lymphoma cells. There are, however, precursor effects after treatment, involving development of other types of cancer, infertility, lung and heart problems. References Clinical Trials News. (2006). Applied Clinical Trials, 15(9), 14–14, 16. Deutsch, N. (2004). Regular ASA use may help prevent Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Medical Post, 40(13), 52–52. Fagnoni, P., Milpied, N., Limat, S., Deconinck, E., Nerich, V., Foussard, C., & Woronoff-Lemsi, M. (2009). Cost effectiveness of high-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell support as initial treatment of aggressive non-hodgkin's lymphoma. PharmacoEconomics, 27(1), 55–68. Kaufman, et al. (2011). Specialty drug approvals on the rise in 2011. Formulary, 46(12), 547–547. Lakamon, Y. (2011). Prognostication and risk-adapted therapy of Hodgkin's lymphoma using positron emission tomography. Retrieved from: http://www.lymphomainfo.net/tests/mri.html Lowry, L., & Linch, D. (2011). Hodgkin's lymphoma. GP, 39–39. Nashed, M. (2007). NCCN updates non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma guides. Drug Topics, 151(16), 21–21. Read More