THEthe Hodgkin’s lymphoma It is one of the best-known blood cancers, but also one of those that has benefited from the greatest therapeutic progress in recent decades. Today, thanks to earlier diagnoses and increasingly effective and targeted treatments, the chances of recovery are very high, especially in younger people. Despite this, receiving a diagnosis of lymphoma remains an event that raises concern and many questions. What are the symptoms to look out for? Who is most at risk? And what treatments are available today?
What is Hodgkin’s lymphoma
The Hodgkin’s lymphoma it is a tumor of the lymphatic system that originates from B lymphocytesa particular category of white blood cells involved in the body’s immune defenses.
The lymphatic system includes a network of vessels, lymph nodes and organs such as the spleen and bone marrow, which are essential for the immune response. The disease generally arises within the lymph nodesbut it can develop anywhere where lymphatic tissue is present. Second AIRC Foundationwhat distinguishes Hodgkin’s lymphoma from other lymphomas is the presence of the so-called Reed-Sternberg cellsconsidered the hallmark of the disease.
Who is most at risk
The Hodgkin’s lymphoma it is a relatively rare disease, with around four new cases per 100 thousand inhabitants.
However, it has a peculiar characteristic: it has two peaks of incidence. The first affects young adults between 20 and 30 years old, the second affects people over 60 years old. Men are slightly more affected than women. The causes are not yet fully clarified. This is not a hereditary disease and, according to experts, they seem to have a greater burden environmental and immunological factors compared to genetic ones. The Italian epidemiological data are reported by AIRC Foundation – Cancer numbers.
How to reach the diagnosis
The fundamental test to arrive at the diagnosis is the lymph node biopsywhich consists of taking a tissue sample to analyze under a microscope. Once the presence of the tumor has been confirmed, it is necessary to establish its extension through the so-called stagingan essential phase that allows you to identify the areas affected by the disease and plan the most appropriate treatment. The general lines of the diagnostic process are also described by AIEOP – Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
How is Hodgkin’s lymphoma treated?
The good news is that today the Hodgkin’s lymphoma it is one of the haematological tumors with better chances of recovery. The percentages reach approximately 87% in women and 85% in men.
The treatment is mainly based on polychemotherapy. Among the most used schemes is the ABVD, developed byItalian oncologist Gianni Bonadonnawhich contributed to changing the history of this disease. In more advanced stages, more intensive therapeutic protocols can be used. Chemotherapy is often associated with radiotherapyused as a treatment of consolidation to eliminate any residual tumor cells in the most affected areas.
New targeted therapies
In recent years, research has opened up new therapeutic perspectives. Among the most innovative drugs is the brentuximab vedotina monoclonal antibody designed to recognize a protein present on tumor cells and target them selectively.
Added to this strategy was theimmunotherapywith drugs such as nivolumab And pembrolizumabwhich help the immune system to recognize and fight cancer more effectively. The most recent clinical evidence and therapeutic updates are also available on the website American Cancer Society – Hodgkin Lymphoma.
A disease that is less scary today
If until a few decades ago a diagnosis of lymphoma represented an extremely complex challenge, today the Hodgkin’s lymphoma it is considered one of the blood cancers with the best cure prospects. The introduction of increasingly effective therapeutic protocols and new immunotherapies has radically changed the prognosis of the disease, offering many patients concrete possibilities of recovery and an increasingly better quality of life after treatment.