How is Hodgkins disease treated?
A. Treatment decisions for Hodgkin’s disease are complex. Before starting treatment, the patient might want a second doctor to review the diagnosis and treatment plan. Methods of Treatment: Treatment for Hodgkin’s disease usually includes radiation therapy or chemotherapy. Sometimes, both are given. Treatment decisions depend on the stage of disease, its location in the body, which symptoms are present, and the general health and age of the patient. (Treatment of children with Hodgkin’s disease is more complex and is not discussed here.) Patients are often referred to doctors or medical centers that have special interest in the different treatments of Hodgkin’s disease. Patients may also want to talk with their doctor about taking part in a research study of new treatment methods. These studies are called clinical trials. Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to damage cancer cells and stop their growth. Radiation therapy is generally given in a hospital or clinic.
The treatment for Hodgkin’s disease depends on the type and stage of the disease, among other factors. The main treatment for Hodgkin’s disease is chemotherapy. Sometimes, radiation and chemotherapy are used together. Stem cell transplantation may also be used. Depending on the stage of the cancer, more than one of these options may be used.
