What is hodgkin’s disease?

Hodgkin's disease is a kind of cancer that occurs in the lymph system, called lymphoma. Lymph system is part of the body's immune system. The lymph system is made up of thin tubes that branch, like blood vessels, into all parts of the body. Lymph vessels carry lymph, a colorless, watery fluid that contains white blood cells called lymphocytes.

Along the network of vessels are groups of small, bean-shaped organs called lymph nodes. Clusters of lymph nodes are found in some places in our body, like the underarm, abdomen, neck, and pelvis. The lymph nodes produce and save infection-fighting cells. The spleen, the thymus, and the tonsils, are also part of the lymph system.

Hodgkin’s disease is named for Dr. Thomas Hodgkin, who described several cases of the cancer within the lymph system in 1832. About 40 years later, other doctors began to report different types of lymphomas.

Hodgkin’s disease develops when the lymphocytes or the lymph node cells begin to multiply uncontrollably, developing malignant cells that have the abnormal function to invade other tissues throughout your body.

Symptoms of hodgkin’s disease

1. Night Sweats
2. Lymph nodes swollen.  The most common symptom of Hodgkin's is the enlargement of one or more lymph nodes. The nodes may also feel rubbery and swollen when diagnose.
3. Back pain. Nonspecific back pain. Pain that cannot be localized or its cause determined by examination has been reported in some cases of Hodgkin’s disease. The lower back is most often affected.
4. Hepatomegaly. Enlargement of the liver, due to liver involvement.
5. Red-coloured patches on the skin, easy petechiae and bleeding due to low platelet count.
6. Hepatosplenomegaly. The swollen of both the spleen and liver.
7. Cyclical fever. Patients with Hodgkin’s disease may also present with a cyclical high-grade fever known as the Pel-Ebstein fever. However, there is debate as to whether or not the Pel-Ebstein fever truly exists.
8. Systemic symptoms. About 30% of patients with Hodgkin’s disease may also present with systemic symptoms, including low-grade fever, unexplained weight loss in six months or less, itchy skin due to increased levels of eosinophils in the bloodstream, or fatigue.