A malignant disease of the lymphatic system. When affected by this cancer, the lymph nodes---which are present in many
parts of the body and play an important role in immunity---enlarge, sometimes to the point where they cause pressure on
adjacent structures. The cancer
cells also may invade the spleen and liver and cause them to enlarge. The disease is not painful in the
early stages, although there is fever, weight loss,
malaise (a general feeling of being unwell), anemia, and sometimes itching of the skin.
Hodgkin's
disease affects two men for every woman and is seen most often
between the ages of 15 and 35 and
after the age of 50. Why the whole
lymphatic system is affected by malignant growth is unknown. A viral cause for Hodgkin's disease has been suspected but not proved.
The nodes in the neck, groin, and armpit first draw
attention to the condition,
usually because they do not settle after an
infection in the normal way. Chest X-ray studies show lymph node enlargement in the chest; superficial
lymph nodes feel tense and rubbery as they grow over a period of weeks and become
matted together.
The
disease is treated with
radiation and chemotherapy; newer
combinations of anticancer drugs are being tried constantly with increasing success. Most
patients can now be cured. For localized Hodgkin's disease, radiation is the
treatment of choice. Combination
chemotherapy is used for more advanced disease. The
prognosis is good, even for persons with advanced Hodgkin's disease.