Hodgkin Lymphoma Cancer: What You Need to Know
Jakarta. Cancer is one of the main causes of deaths globally. Globocan, a project by the International Agency of Research on Cancer (IARC), noted there were 14.1 million new cancer cases all over the world in 2012 alone, and 8.2 million of them ended up in the death of the patient.
"There are over a hundred types of cancers affecting different human organs from head to toe," Prof. Arry Reksodiputro, oncologist and chairman of the Indonesian Society of Hematology-Medical Oncology, said during a media gathering organized by Takeda Pharmaceutical Company in Jakarta on Wednesday (17/01). "Among the least known ones is the Hodgkin lymphoma cancer," he said.
Hodgkin Lymphoma cancer was first discovered by British physician Dr. Thomas Hodgkin in 1832.
"In those early days, 80 percent of the patients detected with Hodgkin Lymphoma died from the disease," Arry said.
Detecting Hodgkin Lymphoma
Hodgkin Lymphoma is caused by a DNA mutation of a white blood cell called B Lymphocytes, which causes them to grow uncontrollably.
"These lymphocytes multiply and gather in certain lymph nodes in your body and cause them to swell," Arry explained.
The swollen lymph nodes are usually located around your neck, armpits or groin areas.
"We usually call them 'sengkelan' in Indonesia," the oncologist said.
The appearance of the swollen lymph nodes is usually accompanied by fevers, night sweats, unexplainable weight loss and severe itching of the lymph nodes.
According to the Lymphoma Coalition, approximately 62,000 people are detected with this type of cancer globally each year. And about 25,000 people die from it annually.
Hodgkin Lymphoma is usually detected in people between 15 and 30 years old. Sixty percent of the patients are male.
Killer Disease
In Indonesia, according to Globocan's data, 1,168 people were detected with Hodgkin Lymphoma in 2012. In the same year, 687 Indonesians died from the disease.
"It's currently the number six killer cancer in this country," Arry said.
The huge mortality rate among Hodgkin Lymphoma patients in Indonesia is mainly caused by late detection of the cancer.
"Many [Hodgkin Lymphoma patients in Indonesia] prefer to go to dukun [witch doctors] and herbalists instead of [medical] doctors when they find lumps in their body," Arry said. "They would only go to the doctor when all else have failed."
Dody Ranuhardy, an oncologist at Dharmais Cancer Hospital Jakarta, agreed with Arry.
"At Dharmais, most of the [Hodgkin Lymphoma] patients come when they're already at stage 3 or 4," Dody said.
"It's a shame because Hodgkin Lymphoma can be totally cured when detected in its early stages," he said.
At the hospital, this type of cancer is usually detected by CT Scan, MRI and PET Scan, as well as biopsy.
"Biopsy is needed to determine the presence of Reed-Sternberg cells and CD30 protein, signifiers of this type of cancer," Dody said.
Treatments
Chemotherapy is the main therapy for this type of cancer.
"Doctors may choose to use radiation therapy when the cancer is still at early stages, but at late stages, chemotherapy is necessary, as this type of cancer can spread very quickly to other parts of the body," Dody said.
Many patients, however, dread chemotherapy as they have often heard or seen the horrible side effects of this treatment.
"Chemotherapy attacks all rapidly dividing cells, which unfortunately also include your stomach lining and hairs," the oncologist said. "That's why chemotherapy often causes hair loss and upset stomach."
Chemotherapy also lowers your white blood cells, which makes your body susceptible to a myriad of infections.
"But it should not be a reason for patients to avoid medical treatments," Dody said. "Oncology medicine advances rapidly and continues to offer new, effective treatments."
One of the latest treatments for Hodgkin Lymphoma patients is targeted therapy using Antibody Drug Conjugate (ADC).
"It's a combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy," Dody said.
ADC only attacks specific CD30 protein in Hodgkin Lymphoma cancer and allows other healthy cells to live, minimizing the dreadful side-effects of chemotherapy.
Like chemotherapy, ADC drugs are administered intravenously within a certain period of time.
"With early detection and these new range of treatments, 80 percent of Hodgkin Lymphoma cases can now be completely cured," Arry said.
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