What is Hodgkin's Disease?

Hodgkin Lymphoma is named after Dr Thomas Hodgkin who was the first person to document lymphoma in scientific papers in 1832.

Hodgkin's Disease is cancer of the lymphatic system and white blood cells, and is the most common cancer in people ages fifteen to thirty-five, but can affect people over the age of fifty-five. It is known to occur more in men than women.

The lymphatic system is made up of tubes, glands and other organs such as the spleen. The glands are called lymph nodes, and these are what become infected when you have lymphoma. Lymph nodes are normally found under the arms, in the neck and in the groin. The lymphatic system is part of your immune system and this is what helps your body fight infection.

Lymphomas occur when something goes wrong with this messaging system. Some of the cells start to divide in an abnormal way, or do not die when they should. These abnormal cells then begin to form lumps in the lymph nodes. They can form in other places too and even spread to lymph nodes in other parts of the body.

Symptoms of lymphoma

The most common symptom of lymphoma is a painless lump or swelling in the neck, armpit or groin. Some people will have no symptoms other than a lump. Other symptoms can include:

• unusual tiredness
• excessive sweating, especially at night
• persistent flu like symptoms
• fevers
• difficulty shaking off infections
• unexplained weight loss without trying
• abdominal pain diarrhoea
• cough or breathlessness
• unexplained itching
• pain after drinking alcohol

Looking back know, I had, had lots of these symptoms, but because I was a normal twenty-one year old and in my final year at uni I put it down to all the hard work I was doing, along with all the stress from the course. And so when you notice these little things you don't really think anymore about them, you just assume you are fit and well.