Hodgkin Lymphoma Treatment
Hodgkin lymphoma treatment can be highly successful, with options such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy and stem cell transplantation producing long-term remission in a number of situations. In fact, with prompt treatment, Hodgkin lymphoma is considered to be one of the most treatable forms of cancer.
The treatment recommended for a specific patient will depend on the type and stage of the condition, as well as the risk of resistant disease (the likelihood that the cancerous cells will not respond to chemotherapy or other targeted treatments). It’s also common for oncologists to take into account the risk of side effects, such as chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity, as the medications used to treat Hodgkin lymphoma can be quite strong. A patient’s age and overall health can also influence the types of treatment recommended.
Within Moffitt Cancer Center’s Malignant Hematology Program, we take a comprehensive, individualized approach to Hodgkin lymphoma treatment. By evaluating a wide range of patient-specific factors and taking into account evidence-based best practices, we’re able to determine the most appropriate treatment options for each patient, which may include:
- Chemotherapy (medications that destroy rapidly dividing cells). This may involve single-agent medications as well as combinations, such as adriamycin, bleomycin and vinblastine. The first course of chemotherapy that a patient receives is known as induction chemotherapy. If a second course is necessary or if the cancer comes back after a period of remission, follow-up chemotherapy cycles are known as salvage chemotherapy.
- Radiation therapy (high-energy beams that destroy cancerous cells). Typically, in the treatment of Hodgkin lymphoma, radiation therapy is delivered after several cycles of chemotherapy. Extended-field radiation therapy, involved-field radiation therapy, involved-site radiation therapy and involved-node radiation therapy are all potential options.
- Stem cell transplantation (replacing a patient’s cancerous cells with healthy donor cells). This is typically performed after a high-dose chemotherapy or radiation therapy cycle is administered to destroy abnormal cells throughout the body. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation can be especially effective for patients who have refractory or relapsed Hodgkin lymphoma.
At Moffitt Cancer Center, patients can receive these and other options with or without a physician’s referral. We not only offer chemotherapy, radiation therapy and stem cell transplantation, but also provide access to a variety of novel treatment options through our nationally recognized clinical trials program. To learn more about Hodgkin lymphoma treatment at Moffitt, call 1-888-663-3488 or submit a new patient registration form online.
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