Hodgkin's lymphoma, or Hodgkin's disease, is a form of cancer that strikes the white blood cells known as lymphocytes. These cells are part of the immune system and play a major role in fighting infections throughout the body. Radiation therapy, or radiotherapy, is used in several different ways to combat the harmful effects of Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Understanding Radiation Therapy
According to the American Cancer Society, radiation therapy involves the use of high-energy radiation to slow or destroy cancer cells. In cases of Hodgkin's lymphoma, the form of radiation used is called external beam radiation, which uses a device similar to an X-ray machine to focus controlled doses of radiation at the site of the cancer. Typically, this approach is most effective when the lymphoma is restricted to one area of the body.
Radiation as Sole Treatment
If lymphoma is caught in its early stages, a patient may receive radiation therapy as her sole form of treatment. In these circumstances, she will typically receive a form of therapy called involved field radiation, which focuses a doses of radiation directly at cancerous lymph nodes. In some instances, she might receive a type of treatment called extended field radiation, which delivers radiation to a wider area as a preventive measure against the spread of lymphoma. When given above the diaphragm, this technique is called mantle field radiation, and includes the chest, neck and underarm lymph nodes. When given below the diaphragm, it is called inverted Y field radiation. Modern advances in cancer-fighting techniques make the imprecise tactics of extended field treatment fairly uncommon.
Radiation With Chemotherapy
Radiation therapy for Hodgkin's lymphoma is frequently combined with the cancer-fighting medications of chemotherapy. In this approach, an oncologist (cancer specialist) will first administer an intravenous or oral dose of one or more chemotherapy agents. A technician will then apply a dose of involved field radiation to the cancer site. This combination treatment is commonly given on an outpatient basis and may extend for a period of roughly four weeks. According to The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library, more than 80 percent of early-stage Hodgkin's patients are cured using this combination treatment. If lymphoma has advanced to later stages, the effectiveness of this technique drops toward 50 percent.
Side Effects and Precautions
Potential side effects of radiation therapy can be both short- and long-term. Short-term effects may include fatigue, skin burns, nausea, dry mouth, lowered blood cell counts and diarrhea. Longer-term effects vary with the area exposed to radiation, and may include thyroid gland damage, increased risk of stroke, heart disease or heart attack and increased risk of future cancers.
If s child has Hodgkin's disease, potential complications of radiation therapy include physical deformity and lack of proper bone growth. To diminish these possibilities, radiation will be given in the smallest dose possible. If lymphoma is diagnosed during a pregnancy, radiation therapy may be used in combination with a lead shield to protect the developing child. Consult an oncologist for a further explanation of the risks and benefits of treatment.
Tags: field radiation, Hodgkin lymphoma, radiation which, body Radiation, combination treatment
