Hodgkin Lymphoma

Treatment

Hematologists, oncologists and other specialists at Mayo Clinic treat Hodgkin lymphoma with several therapies, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and stem cell transplantation.

Chemotherapy

Many different types of chemotherapy medications are available to treat Hodgkin lymphoma. These drugs destroy cancer cells in different ways and have different side effects. Sometimes several drugs are given at once. That approach increases the effectiveness of the treatment in some people.

Radiation Therapy

Limited radiation therapy is commonly combined with chemotherapy. Depending on the stage of the disease, radiation treatment can take place over several weeks or several months. The success rate for treatment of early-stage Hodgkin lymphoma, when the disease has not advanced beyond a single lymph node area, is 80 to 90 percent. If a relapse occurs after radiation therapy, chemotherapy is used and can be very effective.

Stem Cell Transplantation

Because chemotherapy and radiation therapy destroy stem cells at the same time that they eradicate cancer cells, stem cell transplantation is used to rebuild a patient's supply of those important developing cells. The procedure involves giving the patient a medication to increase the number of stem cells in the blood, then drawing blood. After the stem cells are removed, the blood is returned to the body. Stem cells can be collected from a patient with Hodgkin lymphoma and preserved for use after chemotherapy, or they can be collected from a matched donor for immediate or later use.

If a person with Hodgkin lymphoma has a relapse, intermittent treatment may be needed over several years. Mayo Clinic makes it possible for patients to receive all their care through a coordinated approach that takes into account all the patient's health needs.