Hodgkin's
Lymphoma
Complications
The lymphoid tissues are
connected throughout your body, which causes Hodgkin's lymphoma often spread from a lymph node to
another. In severe
cases, Hodgkin's lymphoma can spread from the lymphatic system to distant organs. In addition to cancer, the
treatment itself may cause complications.
The most common
complications of Hodgkin's lymphoma and its treatment are the following:
- Leukemia – chemotherapy drugs used to treat the lymphoma can
cause leukemia;
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma(NHL) – there is a risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma associated
in any treatment used to treat lymphoma;
- Second malignancy - secondary tumors such as tumors in the lungs,
breasts or gastrointestinal system may occur even years after the Hodgkin's lymphoma treatment;
- Cardiovascular disease - among the complications of Hodgkin lymphoma
treatment, include myocardial infarction and stroke. Complications depend on the amount of radiation
received during the radiation therapy. In
general, the risk of myocardial infarction or stroke increases when the radiation dose is greater than 30
grays.
- Thyroid
disorder - about
50% of cases of Hodgkin's lymphoma lead to thyroid complications. Scientists believe that the problem is
related to mantle irradiation, radiation performed above the diaphragm in the treatment of Hodgkin's
lymphoma. In addition, after mantle radiation the risk of breast cancer seems to increase.
- Infertility
- not
only the disease, radiotherapy below the diaphragm and chemotherapy containing alkylating agents may lead
to infertility. The treatment often leads to an absence of menstruation; in women under twenty-five years,
this problem is often reversible. Among men, the protection of testes during the radiation therapy can help
prevent infertility problems.
- Other
problems - after
Hodgkin's lymphoma treatment, mainly two-three years after the end of the treatment, you are at risk of
developing zoster or lung infection. Scientists believe that these problems are related to bleomycin and
adriamycin, two of the chemotherapy drugs used to treat
Hodgkin's
lymphoma.
Symptoms
Diagnosis
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