Treatment Overview
Hodgkin’s lymphoma can usually be cured. Treatment for Hodgkin’s lymphoma depends on the stage. Stages are used to describe how much the cancer has worsened or spread.
Stages and Treatments
Treatments and stages for Hodgkin’s lymphoma are:
Stage I – The lymphoma is only in one lymph node region or a single organ.
Treatment for Stage I Hodgkin’s lymphoma may include:
- Chemotherapy
- Corticosteroids
- Radiation therapy
- Stem cell transplant
- Immunotherapy
Stage II – The lymphoma is in two lymph node regions or has spread to one organ and its nearly lymph nodes. The tumor is either above or below the diaphragm.
Treatment for Stage II Hodgkin’s lymphoma may include:
- Chemotherapy
- Corticosteroids
- Radiation therapy
- Targeted therapy
- Stem cell transplant
- Immunotherapy
Stage III – The lymphoma has spread to the lymph nodes both above and below the diaphragm. The lymphoma may have spread to tissue near an organ, lymph nodes, or the spleen.
Treatment for Stage III Hodgkin’s lymphoma may include:
- Chemotherapy
- Corticosteroids
- Radiation therapy
- Targeted therapy
- Stem cell transplant
- Immunotherapy
Stage IV – In this advanced stage of lymphoma, the cancer has spread to several areas of one or more organs or tissues. The lymphoma affects the lymph nodes and other areas of the body, such as the lungs, liver, or bone.
Treatment for Stage IV Hodgkin’s lymphoma may include:
- Chemotherapy
- Corticosteroids
- Radiation therapy
- Targeted therapy
- Stem cell transplant
- Immunotherapy
Types of Treatments
Treatments for Hodgkin’s lymphoma include:
- Chemotherapy
- Corticosteroids
- Radiation therapy
- Targeted therapy
- Immunotherapy
- Stem cell transplant
Chemotherapy – Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy may be given by pill or directly into vein. Chemotherapy is often used in combination with radiation therapy or other drugs, such as corticosteroids, for the treatment of Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Chemotherapy drugs combined with corticosteroids used for Hodgkin’s lymphoma include:
- Combination regimen of nitrogen mustard, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone
- Combination regimen of doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine,
- Combination regimen of nitrogen mustard, vincristine, procarbazine, bleomycin, Adriamycin, and prednisone
- Combination regimen chlorambucil, vinblastine, procarbazine, and prednisone
Radiation therapy – Radiation therapy uses high-energy radiation, such as X-Rays or protons, to kill cancer cells. Radiation therapy is often used in combination with chemotherapy for the treatment of Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Targeted therapy – Targeted therapy uses drugs that stop cancer cells from growing. Targeted therapy drugs for the treatment of Hodgkin’s lymphoma include brentuximab and rituximab.
Immunotherapy (Biological therapy) – Immunotherapy uses the body’s immune system, or the body’s natural defenses, to kill cancer. Immunotherapy drugs for the treatment of Hodgkin’s lymphoma include:
- Brentuximab vedotin
- Nivolumab
- Pembrolizumab
Stem cell transplant – This treatment for Hodgkin’s lymphoma may be used to replace diseased bone marrow with healthy stem cells.
Palliative Care
In addition to standard treatments, patients with cancer may also be treated with palliative care. Palliative care is used to relieve pain and other symptoms to make a patient more comfortable.
New, Experimental Treatment
The drug, leukine, was approved by the FDA (2018) for the treatment of Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Long-Term Follow Up
Ongoing, long-term follow-up is an essential part of the treatment for patients with Hodgkin’s lymphoma because the cancer can reoccur even after it has been treated.
Sources
This content was written by the MediFind Medical Team. Last updated: 6/9/2022
Medications for Hodgkin Lymphoma
These are drugs that have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), meaning they have been determined to be safe and effective for use in Hodgkin Lymphoma.