Patient's Query
Hello doctor
I am a 26-year-old man who developed painless enlarged lymph nodes in my neck and under my arms, along with drenching night sweats, unexplained weight loss of 15 pounds, and persistent fatigue over three months.
I was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma after a lymph node biopsy. The doctors also did a PET scan. Found that the lymph nodes in my chest, neck, and abdomen are affected. This means I have stage IIIB Hodgkin lymphoma. My doctor told me that my LDH is high at 450 U/L and my ESR is also very high at 85 mm/hr. My hemoglobin level has gone down to 10.5 g/dL.
Sometimes I get fevers. My itching has gotten really bad all over my body. I am worried about Hodgkin lymphoma. Can Hodgkin lymphoma spread to parts of my body, like my liver or lungs? I also want to know about the treatment. Will the chemotherapy make me unable to have children? Can it hurt my heart? Make me more likely to get other cancers later on?
Please advise.
Thank you.
Hello,
Welcome to icliniq.com.
I understand that you are worried about Hodgkin lymphoma.
Infertility is something that can happen because of some chemotherapy treatments. That is why doctors often tell people to save their sperm or eggs before they start treatment.
Some side effects of chemotherapy, such as damage to organs, a greater risk of infection, and hair loss, are not permanent.
There is a risk that Hodgkin lymphoma may return. This occurs in about 10 to 30 percent of people with this disease. For people who are in the early stages of classical Hodgkin lymphoma, the chance of the disease coming back is around 10 to 15 percent.
For people who are in later stages, the chance of the disease coming back is around 15 to 30 percent. A lot of the time, the disease comes back within two years after treatment. So it is an idea to keep checking in with your doctor for up to five years and get imaging tests every three to six months.
Eating plenty of protein, exercising regularly, and taking care of yourself can help you feel better during and after treatment.
The risks associated with getting the imaging done are very minimal. There are certain symptoms like itchiness and fever, which are related to the disease. More often than not, it gets better with treatment. If you are sick but unable to receive treatment far away from where you are, you can take medication to help ease your symptoms.
Classical Hodgkin's lymphoma mostly spreads from one lymph node to another in a sequential manner. With progression of the disease, it may also affect other organs like the lungs, liver, or even bone marrow. The disease doesn't spread randomly.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any queries.
Thanks.
Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!
Disclaimer: No content published on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical diagnosis, advice or treatment by a trained physician. Seek advice from your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with questions you may have regarding your symptoms and medical condition for a complete medical diagnosis. Do not delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice because of something you have read on this website. Read our Editorial Process to know how we create content for health articles and queries.