Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Hodgkins
Hodgkin's lymphoma — formerly known as Hodgkin's disease — is a cancer of the lymphatic system, which is part of your immune system.
In Hodgkin's lymphoma, cells in the lymphatic system grow abnormally and may spread beyond the lymphatic system. As Hodgkin's lymphoma progresses, it compromises your body's ability to fight infection.
Hodgkin's lymphoma is one of two common types of cancers of the lymphatic system. The other type, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, is far more common.
Advances in diagnosis and treatment of Hodgkin's lymphoma have helped to give people with this diagnosis the chance for a full recovery. The prognosis continues to improve for people with Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Friday, July 27, 2007
Detailed Guide:
Detailed Guide:
What Are the Key Statistics for Hodgkin's Disease?
The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2005 about 7,350 new cases of Hodgkin disease will be diagnosed in the United States. Of these new cases, 3,370 will occur in women and 3,980 in men. These numbers have not changed much over the past few years.
Hodgkin disease can occur in both children and adults. It is more common, though, in 2 age groups: early adulthood (age 15 to 40, usually 25 to 30) and late adulthood (after age 55). Hodgkin disease is rare before 5 years of age. About 10% to 15% of cases are diagnosed in children 16 years of age and younger.
An estimated 1,410 people (630 women, 780 men) will die of Hodgkin disease in the United States during 2005. Because of advances in treatment, death rates have fallen more than 60% since the early 1970s. By 2001, there were over 123,000 people who had survived this disease.
The 1-year relative survival rate for all patients after treatment is 93%; the 5-year and 10-year rates are 85% and 77%, respectively. At 15 years, the relative survival rate is 68%. Certain factors such as the stage of the disease and a patientÂ’s age (older patients have lower survival rates) affect this. During the first 15 years after treatment, the main cause of death in these patients is recurrent Hodgkin disease. By 15 to 20 years after treatment, death due to other causes, such as developing a second type of cancer, usually caused by treatment, is more common.
The 5-year survival rate (for example) refers to the percentage of patients who live at least 5 years after their cancer is diagnosed. Five-year survival rates are used to produce a standard way of discussing prognosis. Of course, many people live much longer than 5 years. Five-year cause-specific or relative survival rates exclude patients dying of other diseases. This means that anyone who died of another cause, such as heart disease, is not counted.
Of course, current 5-year survival rates are based on people with Hodgkin disease diagnosed and initially treated more than 5 years ago. Advances in treatment have produced a more favorable outlook for recently diagnosed patients. For a discussion on 5-year survival by stage of disease, see the section How Is Hodgkin Disease Staged?"
What Are the Key Statistics for Hodgkin's Disease?
The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2005 about 7,350 new cases of Hodgkin disease will be diagnosed in the United States. Of these new cases, 3,370 will occur in women and 3,980 in men. These numbers have not changed much over the past few years.
Hodgkin disease can occur in both children and adults. It is more common, though, in 2 age groups: early adulthood (age 15 to 40, usually 25 to 30) and late adulthood (after age 55). Hodgkin disease is rare before 5 years of age. About 10% to 15% of cases are diagnosed in children 16 years of age and younger.
An estimated 1,410 people (630 women, 780 men) will die of Hodgkin disease in the United States during 2005. Because of advances in treatment, death rates have fallen more than 60% since the early 1970s. By 2001, there were over 123,000 people who had survived this disease.
The 1-year relative survival rate for all patients after treatment is 93%; the 5-year and 10-year rates are 85% and 77%, respectively. At 15 years, the relative survival rate is 68%. Certain factors such as the stage of the disease and a patientÂ’s age (older patients have lower survival rates) affect this. During the first 15 years after treatment, the main cause of death in these patients is recurrent Hodgkin disease. By 15 to 20 years after treatment, death due to other causes, such as developing a second type of cancer, usually caused by treatment, is more common.
The 5-year survival rate (for example) refers to the percentage of patients who live at least 5 years after their cancer is diagnosed. Five-year survival rates are used to produce a standard way of discussing prognosis. Of course, many people live much longer than 5 years. Five-year cause-specific or relative survival rates exclude patients dying of other diseases. This means that anyone who died of another cause, such as heart disease, is not counted.
Of course, current 5-year survival rates are based on people with Hodgkin disease diagnosed and initially treated more than 5 years ago. Advances in treatment have produced a more favorable outlook for recently diagnosed patients. For a discussion on 5-year survival by stage of disease, see the section How Is Hodgkin Disease Staged?"
Detailed Guide:
Detailed Guide:
What Is Cancer?
Cancer develops when cells in a part of the body begin to grow out of control. Although there are many kinds of cancer, they all start because of out-of-control growth of abnormal cells.
Normal body cells grow, divide, and die in an orderly fashion. During the early years of a person's life, normal cells divide more rapidly until the person becomes an adult. After that, cells in most parts of the body divide only to replace worn-out or dying cells and to repair injuries.
Because cancer cells continue to grow and divide, they are different from normal cells. Instead of dying, they outlive normal cells and continue to form new abnormal cells.
Cancer cells develop because of damage to DNA. This substance is in every cell and directs all activities. Most of the time when DNA becomes damaged the body is able to repair it. In cancer cells, the damaged DNA is not repaired. People can inherit damaged DNA, which accounts for inherited cancers. More often, though, a person's DNA becomes damaged by exposure to something in the environment, like smoking.
Cancer usually forms as a tumor. Some cancers, like leukemia, do not form tumors. Instead, these cancer cells involve the blood and blood-forming organs and circulate through other tissues where they grow.
Often, cancer cells travel to other parts of the body where they begin to grow and replace normal tissue. This process is called metastasis. Regardless of where a cancer may spread, however, it is always named for the place it began. For instance, breast cancer that spreads to the liver is still called breast cancer, not liver cancer.
Not all tumors are cancerous. Benign (noncancerous) tumors do not spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body and, with very rare exceptions, are not life threatening.
Different types of cancer can behave very differently. For example, lung cancer and breast cancer are very different diseases. They grow at different rates and respond to different treatments. That is why people with cancer need treatment that is aimed at their particular kind of cancer.
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. Half of all men and one third of all women in the United States will develop cancer during their lifetimes. Today, millions of people are living with cancer or have had cancer. The risk of developing most types of cancer can be reduced by changes in a person's lifestyle, for example, by quitting smoking and eating a better diet. The sooner a cancer is found and treatment begins, the better are the chances for living for many years.
What Is Cancer?
Cancer develops when cells in a part of the body begin to grow out of control. Although there are many kinds of cancer, they all start because of out-of-control growth of abnormal cells.
Normal body cells grow, divide, and die in an orderly fashion. During the early years of a person's life, normal cells divide more rapidly until the person becomes an adult. After that, cells in most parts of the body divide only to replace worn-out or dying cells and to repair injuries.
Because cancer cells continue to grow and divide, they are different from normal cells. Instead of dying, they outlive normal cells and continue to form new abnormal cells.
Cancer cells develop because of damage to DNA. This substance is in every cell and directs all activities. Most of the time when DNA becomes damaged the body is able to repair it. In cancer cells, the damaged DNA is not repaired. People can inherit damaged DNA, which accounts for inherited cancers. More often, though, a person's DNA becomes damaged by exposure to something in the environment, like smoking.
Cancer usually forms as a tumor. Some cancers, like leukemia, do not form tumors. Instead, these cancer cells involve the blood and blood-forming organs and circulate through other tissues where they grow.
Often, cancer cells travel to other parts of the body where they begin to grow and replace normal tissue. This process is called metastasis. Regardless of where a cancer may spread, however, it is always named for the place it began. For instance, breast cancer that spreads to the liver is still called breast cancer, not liver cancer.
Not all tumors are cancerous. Benign (noncancerous) tumors do not spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body and, with very rare exceptions, are not life threatening.
Different types of cancer can behave very differently. For example, lung cancer and breast cancer are very different diseases. They grow at different rates and respond to different treatments. That is why people with cancer need treatment that is aimed at their particular kind of cancer.
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. Half of all men and one third of all women in the United States will develop cancer during their lifetimes. Today, millions of people are living with cancer or have had cancer. The risk of developing most types of cancer can be reduced by changes in a person's lifestyle, for example, by quitting smoking and eating a better diet. The sooner a cancer is found and treatment begins, the better are the chances for living for many years.
Detailed Guide:
Detailed Guide:
What Is Hodgkin's Disease?
Hodgkin's disease, sometimes called Hodgkin's lymphoma, is a cancer that starts in lymphatic tissue. Lymphatic tissue includes the lymph nodes and related organs that are part of the body's immune and blood-forming systems. The lymph nodes are small, bean-shaped organs found underneath the skin in the neck, underarm, and groin. They are also found in many other places in the body such as inside the chest, abdomen, and pelvis.
Lymph nodes make and store infection-fighting white blood cells, called lymphocytes. They are connected throughout the body by lymph vessels (narrow tubes similar to blood vessels). These lymph vessels carry a colorless, watery fluid (lymphatic fluid) that contains lymphocytes. Eventually the lymphatic fluid is emptied into the blood vessels in the left upper chest.
Other components of the lymphatic system include the spleen, the bone marrow, and the thymus. The spleen is an organ in the left side of the upper abdomen that is composed primarily of mature and immature lymphocytes. It removes old cells and other debris from the blood. The bone marrow is the spongy tissue inside the bones that creates new red and white blood cells including lymphocytes. The thymus is a small organ in the chest that is important in developing a special lymphocyte called a T cell.
Because lymphatic tissue is present in many parts of the body, Hodgkin's disease can start almost anywhere, but most often starts in lymph nodes in the upper part of the body. The most common sites are in the chest, neck, or under the arms. Hodgkin's disease enlarges the lymphatic tissue, which can then cause pressure on important structures. It can spread through the lymphatic vessels to other lymph nodes. This is the major way it spreads. Most Hodgkin's disease spreads to nearby lymph node sites in the body, not distant ones. It rarely gets into the blood vessels and can spread to almost any other site in the body, including the liver and lungs.
Lymph nodes enlarge for many reasaons. Although Hodgkin's disease is one cause, enlarged lymph nodes are more commonly a result of the body fighting an infection. Your doctor can help determine the cause.
Hodgkin's disease is a malignant lymphoma (cancer of lymphatic tissue). There are two kinds of lymphomas: Hodgkin's disease (named after Dr. Thomas Hodgkin who first recognized it in 1832) and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. For information on non-Hodgkin's lymphomas see the document "Non-Hodgkin's Lymphomas".
The cancer cells in Hodgkin's disease are called Reed-Sternberg cells, after the two doctors who first described them in detail. Under a microscope they look different from cells of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and other cancers. Most scientists now believe that Reed-Sternberg cells are a type of malignant B lymphocyte. Normal B lymphocytes are the cells that make antibodies that help fight infections.
Doctors have given names to different types and subtypes of Hodgkin's disease. The two main types are classical Hodgkin's disease (which has several subtypes) and nodular predominant Hodgkin's disease.
Classical Hodgkin's disease:
# Lymphocyte predominance
# Nodular sclerosis
# Mixed cellularity
# Lymphocyte depletion
# Unclassified.
Nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin's disease
All of these types are malignant because as they grow, they may compress, invade, destroy normal tissue and spread to other tissues. There is no benign (noncancerous) form of Hodgkin's disease.
What Is Hodgkin's Disease?
Hodgkin's disease, sometimes called Hodgkin's lymphoma, is a cancer that starts in lymphatic tissue. Lymphatic tissue includes the lymph nodes and related organs that are part of the body's immune and blood-forming systems. The lymph nodes are small, bean-shaped organs found underneath the skin in the neck, underarm, and groin. They are also found in many other places in the body such as inside the chest, abdomen, and pelvis.
Lymph nodes make and store infection-fighting white blood cells, called lymphocytes. They are connected throughout the body by lymph vessels (narrow tubes similar to blood vessels). These lymph vessels carry a colorless, watery fluid (lymphatic fluid) that contains lymphocytes. Eventually the lymphatic fluid is emptied into the blood vessels in the left upper chest.
Other components of the lymphatic system include the spleen, the bone marrow, and the thymus. The spleen is an organ in the left side of the upper abdomen that is composed primarily of mature and immature lymphocytes. It removes old cells and other debris from the blood. The bone marrow is the spongy tissue inside the bones that creates new red and white blood cells including lymphocytes. The thymus is a small organ in the chest that is important in developing a special lymphocyte called a T cell.
Because lymphatic tissue is present in many parts of the body, Hodgkin's disease can start almost anywhere, but most often starts in lymph nodes in the upper part of the body. The most common sites are in the chest, neck, or under the arms. Hodgkin's disease enlarges the lymphatic tissue, which can then cause pressure on important structures. It can spread through the lymphatic vessels to other lymph nodes. This is the major way it spreads. Most Hodgkin's disease spreads to nearby lymph node sites in the body, not distant ones. It rarely gets into the blood vessels and can spread to almost any other site in the body, including the liver and lungs.
Lymph nodes enlarge for many reasaons. Although Hodgkin's disease is one cause, enlarged lymph nodes are more commonly a result of the body fighting an infection. Your doctor can help determine the cause.
Hodgkin's disease is a malignant lymphoma (cancer of lymphatic tissue). There are two kinds of lymphomas: Hodgkin's disease (named after Dr. Thomas Hodgkin who first recognized it in 1832) and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. For information on non-Hodgkin's lymphomas see the document "Non-Hodgkin's Lymphomas".
The cancer cells in Hodgkin's disease are called Reed-Sternberg cells, after the two doctors who first described them in detail. Under a microscope they look different from cells of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and other cancers. Most scientists now believe that Reed-Sternberg cells are a type of malignant B lymphocyte. Normal B lymphocytes are the cells that make antibodies that help fight infections.
Doctors have given names to different types and subtypes of Hodgkin's disease. The two main types are classical Hodgkin's disease (which has several subtypes) and nodular predominant Hodgkin's disease.
Classical Hodgkin's disease:
# Lymphocyte predominance
# Nodular sclerosis
# Mixed cellularity
# Lymphocyte depletion
# Unclassified.
Nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin's disease
All of these types are malignant because as they grow, they may compress, invade, destroy normal tissue and spread to other tissues. There is no benign (noncancerous) form of Hodgkin's disease.
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