Hodgkin Lymphoma

Key facts

• Hodgkin lymphoma is a cancer that starts in B lymphocytes, the white blood cells that live in lymph nodes. It is one of the more treatable blood cancers and affects both younger adults and people over 55.
• The classic sign is a painless, rubbery lump in the neck, armpit or groin that does not go away on its own. Drenching night sweats, unexplained weight loss and persistent fever, together called B symptoms, point to more advanced disease.
• Treatment is chemotherapy-based, usually a multi-drug regimen, often combined with radiotherapy for disease confined to one area. An alkylating agent such as chlorambucil has a role in some presentations, particularly for older patients or those who cannot tolerate intensive protocols.
• Cure rates exceed 85% in early-stage disease, so prompt diagnosis matters as much as the treatment itself.

What Hodgkin lymphoma is

Hodgkin lymphoma develops when B lymphocytes in the lymph nodes grow and divide abnormally. It is one of two main types of lymphoma (the other being non-Hodgkin lymphoma) and is distinguished under the microscope by the presence of Reed-Sternberg cells. It can start in a single node or node group and spread through the lymphatic system if untreated.

Symptoms

A swollen, rubbery, usually painless lymph node in the neck, armpit or groin is the most common first sign, and it persists rather than coming and going. Fatigue and itch are frequent but easy to dismiss. More advanced disease can bring B symptoms: drenching night sweats, weight loss without trying, and fevers that come and go. These carry weight in staging the disease and shaping treatment intensity.

How Hodgkin lymphoma is treated

Chemotherapy is the backbone of treatment, typically a combination of several drugs given in cycles over months. Chlorambucil, an alkylating agent, is used in certain cases, particularly for patients unsuited to more intensive regimens. Radiotherapy is frequently added when disease is limited to one region, either alongside chemotherapy or after it. Overall cure rates are high, especially when disease is caught at an early stage, and follow-up care focuses on monitoring for recurrence and managing any long-term treatment effects. Related medicines used in blood cancer care sit within oncology support.

When to see a doctor

See a doctor promptly if a lymph node swelling persists beyond two or three weeks, especially alongside night sweats, unexplained weight loss or fever. Early diagnosis is directly tied to the high cure rates this cancer is known for.

This page is educational and does not replace advice from a doctor or pharmacist who knows your health history.