Treatment
Once cancer has been detected, biopsied and “staged,” your WellStar team of specialists in hematologic oncology, radiation oncology, radiology and pathology will work together to assess your best course of Hodgkin lymphoma treatment. This will include formulating a coordinated plan of personalized treatment consistent with the highest standards of care.
Your treatment will be tailored to your specific type of Hodgkin lymphoma, and it may involve radiation, chemotherapy, bone marrow or stem cell transplants, or a combination of these treatments.
Hodgkin Lymphoma surgery
Typically, surgery is not performed as the sole treatment in Hodgkin lymphoma patients because the standard of care is radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy.
Medical Oncology/Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is typically used for Hodgkin lymphoma patients whose disease has spread to other lymph nodes or to distant organs.
Chemotherapy is the use of drugs given by mouth or injection to destroy cancer cells. It can be used to assist in the cure of cancer patients or to prolong life or the quality of life.
There are currently several protocols for treating Hodgkin lymphoma, and your WellStar physician will base your treatment decision on your individual cancer type, stage, and your general overall health. The most commonly used first line chemotherapy regimen is ABVD, which consists of doxorubicin (Adriamycin), bleomycin, vinblastine and dacarbazine.
Radiation
Radiation therapy is used for Hodgkin lymphoma patients whose disease is limited to one area. Sometimes, chemotherapy may be used in conjunction with radiation therapy.
Wellstar offers standard radiation and cutting edge techniques. WellStar radiation oncologists are highly trained at administrating the precise dose of radiation and targeting the radiation to the exact area needed, thus sparing nearby tissue, such as arteries, the chest wall and the heart, and minimizing the risk of late effects of radiation (side effects, such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, or second cancers, that occur years later). You will want to discuss your treatment options with your WellStar team.
If your cancer recurs after radiation and chemotherapy, your WellStar physician may recommend a bone marrow or stem cell transplant. In these procedures, your own bone marrow or stem cells are used to help fight the cancer. They are removed from your body, then frozen and stored. Meanwhile, chemotherapy is used to kill the cancer cells remaining in your body. Then, your bone marrow or stem cells are returned to your body via injection.