Understanding Hodgkin lymphoma
This booklet has been prepared to help you understand more about Hodgkin lymphoma.
What is Hodgkin lymphoma?
Hodgkin lymphoma, sometimes called Hodgkin disease, is a type of lymphoma – a general term for cancer of the lymphatic system (the various lymph glands around the body).
There are two types of Hodgkin lymphoma:
- classical Hodgkin lymphoma which makes up about 95% of cases
- nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma
Hodgkin lymphoma is a rare cancer. It is estimated that more than 700 people were diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma cancer in 2023. The average age at diagnosis is 44 years old.
Diagnosis of Hodgkin lymphoma
Initially your GP may give you a physical examination and feel the lymph nodes in your neck, underarm and groin for any swelling. If there is some enlargement you may have some additional tests.
Biopsy
This is the most common test to diagnose Hodgkin lymphoma. Some tissue from the enlarged lymph node will be removed for examination under a microscope. There are two types of biopsy:
- excision biopsy removes part or the whole lymph node under general anaesthetic
- core needle biopsy uses a needle to remove some cells and tissue from the lymph node.
Further tests
If the results of your biopsy indicate you have Hodgkin lymphoma you may have additional tests to determine how far the cancer has spread. These may include:
After a diagnosis of Hodgkin lymphoma
After being diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, you may feel shocked, upset, anxious or confused. These are normal responses. A diagnosis of Hodgkin lymphoma affects each person differently. For most it will be a difficult time, however some people manage to continue with their normal daily activities.
You may find it helpful to talk about your treatment options with your doctors, family and friends. Ask questions and seek as much information as you feel you need. It is up to you as to how involved you want to be in making decisions about your treatment.
Treatment for Hodgkin lymphoma
Treatment for Hodgkin lymphoma will depend on how advanced the disease is as well as your age, symptoms and overall health.
Staging
Further tests after a biopsy will tell your doctor how far Hodgkin lymphoma has spread. This is called staging. Staging helps your doctors decide on the best treatment.
Radiation therapy (radiotherapy)
Radiation therapy (also known as radiotherapy) uses x-rays or gamma rays to destroy or damage cancer cells. A combination of radiation therapy and chemotherapy (chemoradiation) is often used to treat early stage Hodgkin lymphoma.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells or slow their growth. In advanced Hodgkin lymphoma, chemotherapy is the principal treatment.
Stem cell transplant
You may have a stem cell transplant if the Hodgkin lymphoma has, or is likely to, return. It may also be offered when the lymphoma has not responded well to other treatments.
Palliative care
In some cases of Hodgkin lymphoma, your medical team may talk to you about palliative care. Palliative care aims to improve your quality of life by alleviating symptoms of cancer, without aiming to cure it.
As well as slowing the spread of Hodgkin lymphoma, palliative treatment can relieve pain and help manage other symptoms. Treatment may include radiotherapy, chemotherapy or other drug therapies.
Treatment Team
Depending on your treatment, your treatment team may consist of a number of different health professionals, such as:
- GP (General Practitioner) – looks after your general health and works with your specialists to coordinate treatment.
- Haematologist- specialises in diagnosing and treating diseases of the blood and lymphatic system.
- Surgeon- surgically removes tumours and performs some biopsies.
- Medical oncologist – prescribes and coordinates the course of chemotherapy.
- Radiation oncologist – prescribes and coordinates radiation therapy treatment.
- Cancer nurse – assists with treatment and provides information and support throughout your treatment.
- Other allied health professionals – such as social workers, pharmacists, and counsellors.
Preventing Hodgkin lymphoma
There are no proven measures to prevent lymphoma, however, people with an HIV infection or Epstein-Barr virus have an increased risk of contracting lymphoma.
Prognosis for Hodgkin lymphoma
Prognosis refers to the expected outcome of a disease. While is it not possible for your doctor to predict the exact course of the disease, you may want to discuss your treatment options and how well you are responding to treatment.
Sources
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- Understanding Hodgkin Lymphoma, Cancer Council NSW © 2019. Last medical review of this booklet: May 2019
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Cancer data in Australia [Internet]. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2023 [cited 2023 Sept 04]. Available here.
- Leukaemia Foundation
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