Hodgkin’s lymphoma (lymphogranulomatosis) is often referred to as a cancer of lymphatic system and differs from other types of lymphoma by presence of specific abnormal lymphocytes that actively divide and completely displace healthy white blood cells.
Clinics in Israel are constantly implementing the latest methods of treatment of cancer, including lymphogranulomatosis with the latest generation of chemotherapy. Such drugs allow to completely cure the patient of Hodgkin’s lymphoma with minimal toxic effects on the body. The effectiveness of lymphogranulomatosis treatment in Israel reaches 90%.
Risk factors
Statistically, Hodgkin’s lymphoma mostly affects mainly young men aged 15-40 years old, as well as people over 55-60 years old. However, other age groups, regardless of gender, also suffer from lymphogranulomatosis.
Scientists have not yet been able to determine the exact causes of Hodgkin’s lymphoma, but the connection between lymphogranulomatosis and genetic, immunological and environmental risk factors has been clinically proven. At the same time, scientists know that this oncological disease is caused by genetic mutations in lymphocytes, but why they start to mutate is unknown. There are other risk factors.
● Heredity. Horizontal family ties , i.e. among siblings, especially between identical twins, play a role here.
●Epstein-Barr virus and the mononucleosis it causes. People who have had this disease are at risk for Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
● Weakened immunity due to HIV infection or taking immunosuppressants.
Sometimes lymphogranulomatosis develops in the absence of any known risk factors, including in middle-aged women.
Symptoms of Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Lymphogranulomatosis begins to manifest itself even when patient still feels relatively well. Enlarged lymph nodes in the neck, armpits and groin are the most characteristic symptom that one can detect by noticing unusually large lymph nodes that they can feel through the skin with fingers. This may also indicate a relatively harmless inflammation, as well as other indirect B-symptoms:
- persistently elevated body temperature;
- loss of appetite and weight;
- itching all over the body;
- profuse night sweats;
- rapid fatigue and a constant feeling of tiredness.
- Enlargement of the liver and spleen (painful or without pain).
However, it is necessary to see a doctor to rule out Hodgkin’s lymphoma or to to confirm the diagnosis and immediate start treatment.
Severely enlarged lymph nodes in the neck or chest can press on the trachea and lungs, causing coughing and chest pain with difficulty breathing. When cancerous lymphocytes enter the bone marrow, the production of red blood cells may be dramatically reduced, leading to anemia.
Diagnosis
- Laboratory blood tests.
- Computer, magnetic resonance and positron emission tomography (CT, MRI and PET).
- Ultrasound examination of lymph nodes (ultrasound);
- Biopsy of lymph nodes and bone marrow.
Treatment of Hodgkin’s lymphoma in Israel
The main and most effective treatment for lymphogranulomatosis is gentle chemotherapy. About a hundred different chemotherapeutic drugs of the latest generation with minimal toxic effects on healthy tissues of the body are used in Israeli clinics. The choice of chemotherapy regimen in Israeli clinics is done collegially to eliminate errors. In addition, high-precision radiation therapy may be prescribed.
Effective treatment of Hodgkin’s lymphoma is not only chemotherapy and radiation, but also full rehabilitation after a heavy therapeutic course. In Israel, all conditions have been created for comfortable full recovery after recovery from this cancer.