Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Overview: Hodgkin's lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system that arises from a type of white blood cells called lymphocytes. It frequently involves the lymph nodes in the center of the chest. This area, called the mediastinum, is next to the heart. It typically affects young adults (ages 20-35) or older adults (ages 55 and up).

Causes: The exact cause of this cancer is unclear. Some scientists believe that a virus, called the Epstein-Barr virus, causes changes in lymphocytes that lead to Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Symptoms: Most patients have a painless mass in the neck, underarm, or groin. If the mediastinum is involved, patients may notice shortness of breath or chest pain. Some patients may also have fevers, excessive sweating (especially at night), intense itching, severe fatigue, and weight loss.

Treatment: The most common treatments for Hodgkin's lymphoma are chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Risk of Radiation Cardiotoxicity: Radiation therapy is still used for Hodgkin's lymphoma sometimes, but it is not as common as it once was in the 1970s-1990s. In the past radiation was used to treat enlarged lymph nodes in the center of the chest and therefore sometimes increasing the risk of radiation beams near the heart. This risk of radiation effects on the heart are increased by the use of certain chemotherapy drugs, such as anthracyclines (e.g. doxorubicin).