Hodgkin’s disease, HD, is named for Dr. Thomas Hodgkin, who described several cases of the cancer within the lymph system in 1832. Nearly 4 decades later, other doctors began to report different types of lymphomas. To date their are many many different kinds.
Hodgkins Disease is diagnosed because of the Reed Sternberg Cell. Under the microscope this resembles a set of Owl Eyes.
At present, The Epstein Barr Virus which causes Mono, is present in most diagnoses and therefore, treated suspect of being a cause.
It is not caused by the foods we eat, or the lifestyle we live.
It is found in 1,700 kids in the US annually from ages 10 to 14. Younger children than 10, it is more common to have Non-Hodgkins. Again, after 14, more common with Non-Hodgkins. It is still rare for children to get it.
Many types of cancer can spread to the lymph system, but… lymphoma actually begins in the cells of the lymph system itself.
It can start by feeling a tireness that nothing can take away, easily bruising, sweating at night where the sheets are saturated, always having a low-grade fever, bumps in the neck, the pelvis, the armpits, anywhere really because it can move out of the Lymphatic system into tissue, and if in the chest a constant dry cough. Or chest pain. Just sometimes, a feeling of just not feeling well. Sometimes, if like me, in the beginning, I had no symptoms. I was misdiagnosed with Hodgkins Disease in 98, later finding out in 2000 it was always Non-Hodgkins.
Hodgkins does have a cure rate. It is comforting to know this, but, the key is to act when something is found that doesn’t make sense, or seem like a cold or anything else.
It does tend to run in families so this is something to consider as always, family medical history is important.