Treatment of Hodgkin’s lymphoma is dependent on the stage which has been assigned to it after the testing. There are four stages of Hodgkin’s lymphoma based on how much it has spread:
Stage I: Limited to one region of lymph nodes or organ
Stage II: Spread has been beyond one region but is still limited to either above or below the diaphragm
Stage III: Has spread to regions both above and below the diaphragm
Stage IV: Has to spread to multiple regions in multiple organs or sections of the body including but not limited to the bones, lungs or liver
Based on these factors, as well as your overall health, the internationally accredited staff of the Oncology service line at The Aga Khan University Hospital may recommend any one of these following procedures for treatment:
Chemotherapy – this is a form of drug therapy that is used to kill cells with lymphoma. The chemotherapy drug can reach almost all areas of your body by traveling through your bloodstream.
Radiation therapy – this treatment uses high-energy rays or particles, such as X-rays, to target and eliminate cancer cells. This treatment may be used alone for classic cases of Hodgkin’s lymphoma; however it is often used following chemotherapy treatment.
Stem cell transplant – this involves replacing your diseased bone marrow with healthy stem cells from a donor in order to help you grow new bone marrow.
Monoclonal antibodies – antibodies describe proteins that are made by your immune system which help to fight off infections. Monoclonal antibodies are man-made versions of antibodies which may be designed to attack a particular target.