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Hodgkins Disease Treatment

The way you can be a complete diagnosis of Hodgkins Disease is done by a tissue biopsy. If for example, your lymph nodes become enlarged with no explainable infection to explain why they are swollen then the doctor will have to take a tissue biopsy of those tissues. If the biopsy concludes that you do have the disease the doctors will conduct more testing such as blood tests, bone marrow biopsy, chest X rays and a CT scan to name a few. Once these tests are completed they will give your doctor a better understanding at what stage the disease is . There are 4 different stages of Hodgkins

• Stage one
  It is when the disease is found in one lymph node area. The survival rate of this stage is 90 to 95 percent
• Stage two
  It is when the disease is found in two or more lymph nodes. The survival rate is 90 to 95 percent
• Stage three
  It is when the disease is present on both sides of the diaphragm. The survival rate is 85 to 90 percent
• Stage four
  It is when the disease has spread into one or more of the organs. The survival rate is about 80 percent.

Once you have been diagnosed and the doctor has determined which stage of the disease your body is at, they will begin treatment. The most common form of treatment for Hodgkins disease is chemotherapy medications which are most likely accompanied by radiation therapy. This is used to eliminate all of the cancer cells. The drug therapies are used to re-boost your immune system.

The Chemotherapy and high doses of radiation will actually eliminate all bone marrow cells that produce the red and white cells. A recommendation of a bone marrow transplant or stem cells may be given. All of the normal stem cells and the bone marrow will be taken before any treatment is given. Once treatment is started and is successful then the normal marrow and stem cells are then put back in to the body.

Currently there is a treatment called the ABVD Regimen , it is considered to the highest level of treatment available. It was developed in the 1970’s and it stands for the four drugs that make up the regimen, Adriamycin, Bleomycin, Vinblastine and Dacarbazine. This treatment can take anywhere from 6 to 8 months to work and sometimes longer treatments are required.

Another form of treatment is called the Stanford V, this newer treatment works in half of the time that the ABVD takes but the chemotherapy will become more intense and radiation therapy may be added.

Prevention for Hodgkins Disease

Find out the Prevention for Hodgkins Disease.