hodgkinsons disease

daveg

I've just heard a very good friend of mine at work has been diagnosed with hodgkinsons disease. Does anyone know more about it? Is it very very serious? I know it's a cancer but when I was told at work I was also told the survival rate is very high. Guy is only in his mid 20's, very fit, doesn't smoke etc...

ianmc38

It's Hodgkins Disease:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hodgkin's_disease

LegacyUser

ianmc38 wrote:

It's Hodgkins Disease:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hodgkin's_disease

quotes below

wiki wrote:

With appropriate treatment, over 85% of Hodgkin's lymphoma cases are curable.

The high cure rates and long survival of many patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma has led to a high concern with late adverse effects of treatment, including cardiovascular disease and second malignancies such as acute leukemias, lymphomas, and solid tumors within the radiation therapy field. Most patients with early stage disease are now treated with abbreviated chemotherapy and involved-field radiation therapy rather than with radiation therapy alone. Clinical research strategies are exploring reduction of the duration of chemotherapy and dose and volume of radiation therapy in an attempt to reduce late morbidity and mortality of treatment while maintaining high cure rates.

Nightwish

A schoolfriend of mine had it when she was in 6th year, and although she was ill from her treatment, she made a full recovery within a year. She has check ups at certain intervals, to make sure there are no relapses, and has had a very healthy and happy 3 years since she got the all clear. It is curable, just be very supportive of your friend. There will be tough times when he's in treatment, but stay positive and he'll get through it.

Blub2k4

My uncle died of Hodgkins about 3 years ago after a ten year illness. He was a very fit man, he ran marathons regularly, maybe two a year and was a large man in stature. The hospital said the only reason he lasted the 10 years was his strong heart from all the road-running.
It was a strange case of cancer for me as he was the healthiest man I ever knew, eating fruits and fibres and apparently all the right things with excercise, moderate drinking and absolutely no smoking in his presence.
It was sad, it devestated his family although they all grieved long before his death.

I hope your friend will be ok, I hoped for my uncle but in the end it got him anyway.
Good luck.

dudara

I had a friend diagnosed with it years ago. She had just started her medical degree, but made a complete recovery, while maintaining her college work. Chances are quite good with this particular type of cancer.

I'm also moving this to the Biology/Medical forum.