DIAGNOSIS
The following tests and methods are used to diagnose Hodgkin’s disease:
- Blood tests
- Lymph node biopsy procedure
- Physical exam
- Imaging tests
- Bone marrow biopsy
Depending on your situation, other tests and treatments may be used.
TREATMENT
The aim of Hodgkin’s disease treatment is to kill as many cells as possible and put the condition in remission. The kind and stage of your cancer, as well as your general health and preferences, will determine which treatments are best for you.
- Chemotherapy. This is a treatment that kills cells by using chemicals. Chemotherapy medications pass through the blood and can affect almost every part of the body. This can be given as pills or injected into a vein in your arm; in certain cases, both techniques are employed.
- Radiation therapy. This uses high-energy beam to destroy cancer. You lie on a table while receiving radiation therapy, and a big machine revolves around you, directing energy beams to particular locations on your body.
- Bone marrow transplant. This is a procedure that replaces defective bone marrow with normal stem cells that aid in the growth of new bone marrow. If Hodgkin’s disease recurs or does not respond to conventional therapies, a transplant may be possible.
Other treatments include:
