Hodgkin's mostly a "young person's" disease??? - Lymphomas Message Board

singer78 · 06-06-2007, 08:52 AM

Hi,
For those of you that have been following my posts, you know I've been diagnosed with "Hodgkin's" lymphoma & am starting treatment.
I was told at diagnosis, that "Hodgkin's" is "the easiest cancer to cure," and I'm holding onto that with all my strength. I understand "Non Hodgkin's" is curable, too--but, a little more extensive in treatment (if I'm understanding right).
Most of the people that are my age (early 50's) seem to have "non Hodgkin's"---or at least it seems that way. All these wonderful "ladies" I've been talking to, here on this forum, all seem to be relatively young (20's & 30's) ...or so it seems. I talked to my Oncologists' nurse yesterday, who told me a "survivor of Hodgkin's" (female) had come into the office to visit & had reminded my nurse of me. The nurse said she was "around my age, had a punk haircut, and she thought we were alot alike,"--- which made me think, that there's not that many of us diagnosed with Hodgkin's, around my age

I guess I'm just wondering why "Hodgkin's" seems to be more prevalant in younger people. I'm still trying to figure out the difference between "Hodgkin's" and "Non Hodgkin's," --- I think it's whether or not the disease has metasticized---am I right? I've been on websites and still can't figure it out....
I guess I'm "thinking out loud" again----
I think as your body ages, even though I'm in good shape, it's harder the older you get. I see the "younger" ladies expressing how treatment is hard, but they still seem to be able to work/go to school/etc... I admire that---I can't possibly see how I could function like that right now... but, then again, perhaps it's just the first treatment knocking me for a loop & not my 'age.'
Sorry for the rambling---I guess I'm feeling "old" today...Although, I remember my Oncologist ---one of the first things he said was, "Well...you're 'relatively' young....and healthy..." So that's a good thing!
Any feedback, peeps?

S.

pinkmada · 06-06-2007, 01:11 PM

hey, i'm sorry if this sounds like my nursing report but this might clear up some questions for you,

Hodgkins disease/lymphoma is most common in people between the ages of 15-40 and 55+. It is also one of the rarest forms of cancer and one of the first cancers to be completely cured using ABVD. There are no known cause but anyone in these catagories ahve a slightly increased chance of developing hodgkins - age (15-40 and 55+), anyone who has a sibling with hodgkins although it is inconclusive if this is due to environmental factors rather than genetic ones. males are more prone to the disease. people who have had the epstein-barr virus (glandular fever) are four times more likely to get the disease and a compromised immune system - HIV/AIDS or after having an organ transplant.

As for differences between HL and NHL, the symptoms and how you are dx are all relatively the same. The only real difference is pathologically. The disease has the mutated cell called the reed-sternberg cell which NHL does not.

I hope that answers some of your questions. I had to do a case study for one of my classes so i thought that I'd do one on me since the doctors keep commenting on my 'rare and exciting story'. It's really helped me understand it more.
xxx

singer78 · 06-06-2007, 01:40 PM

WOW...are you informed, or what???
So, are you studying to become a nurse?
Thanks so much for that synopsis. My ENT told me he'd diagnosed 3 or 4 cases in the last few months prior to me (for Hodgkin's) and he believed it to be "environmental," also. I'm becoming a firm believer that "mold" played a factor in my contacting this, too. Right before my node "popped" out, I'd cleaned our very damp basement for about 5 days straight. Coincidence? Don't know, of course... Also, the fact that I was cleaning kitty litter boxes and NOT wearing my mask. I have kicked myself over & over for that one! I'm being so ultra-conscious now about being clean, concerning my cats---I have Purell everywhere! I've read where "cat scratch fever" can mock lymphoma....which is what I originally thought I had.
Anyway--thanks a million to inform me. Knowledge is power!

S.

LINDA505 · 06-06-2007, 03:27 PM

Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma is an enviormental disease that can happen when exposed to chemical and toxin's. Hodgkins disease affects mostly the lymph nodes and can have a very high cure rate. NHL can affect all ages and can occur anywhere in the body. Some types of NHL are curable and some other
types are not. If someone has HIV or Aids it is harder to cure and usually will
not have a favorable outcome. Hodgkins affects young people but can also
affect someone older or mid life. My mother was diagnosised with NHL after
her sore throat would not go away. It came on suddenly and it started on the base of her tongue. It spread into her lymph node in her neck. She had chemo and had a complete cure and was disease free after 3 yrs. Unfortunately she
passed away from a heart attack. My brother the same yr. was diagnosised
with a different type of NHL where his was growing in his abdomen. The doc said he probably had this for 5-6 yrs before discovering it. He had a pain in his back that was probably a kidney stone and it was discovered on a CT of his abd.
His type of NHL has no cure but can go into remission. He had a course of chemo and also radiation. Unfortunately this past Nov. he was diagnosised with leukemia secondary to the radiation. The oncologist thought this was
a risk he should take to get a cure and not a remission. He almost made it
to 5 yrs. with not sign of disease and then he had pancytopenia and it turned out to be leukemia. He has had 2 rounds of chemotherapy and they are trying to get him in remission and he needs a stem cell transplant in order to
live more than 2 yrs. This has been very devastating for our family and pray that they can find a donor. You have a much better chance of a cure if you
have hodgkins disease and the cure rate is 90% or more. Good luck with your treatment. If they recommend any kind of radiation pay close attention to the risks. Unfortunately my brother and his family only heard cure and did
not hear that it could cause secondary cancers.

singer78 · 06-06-2007, 04:17 PM

Thanks so much, and I'm so sorry for your mother's loss and your brother's illness. Was your mother's heart attack Hodgkin's related? Did she have radiation, too?
Oh dear, this is scaring me some, because I'm only 'one' treatment into my chemo---I have chemo twice a month--every 'other' week---8 treatments in all. Then, I'm told "off" one month--- Then, radiation for a full month, 5 days a wk., weekends off...which will lead me to the end of November. I've read about the secondary cancers, but I wasn't aware it was related to radiation. Perhaps, after my chemo, if I get a clean bill of health, maybe my Oncologist will decide to forgo radiation. Right now, chemo & radiation seems to be the plan.
It seems like you might be "pro" chemo, but "anti" radiation....is that right?
I'm just now, after 5 days of chemo, coming around. I'm trying to remain as positive as possible---since I've read over & over that it's "curable." You're making me question the radiation part.
It seems that most of the people I've talked to that are on the "other side" (cured) only had chemo, now that I think about it.
Should I question my Oncologist tomorrow? This is all so baffling & I so appreciate your input.
Your brother's in my prayers.
Thanks again.
S.