Early Favorable Hodgkin Lymphoma
Early Unfavorable Hodgkin Lymphoma
Advanced Favorable Hodgkin Lymphoma
Advanced Unfavorable Hodgkin Lymphoma
Recurrent Adult Hodgkin Lymphoma
Hodgkin Lymphoma During Pregnancy
        Hodgkin Lymphoma During the First Trimester of Pregnancy
        Hodgkin Lymphoma During the Second Half of Pregnancy

A link to a list of current clinical trials is included for each treatment section. For some types or stages of cancer, there may not be any trials listed. Check with your doctor for clinical trials that are not listed here but may be right for you.

Treatment of early favorable Hodgkin lymphoma may include the following:

• Combination chemotherapy with or without radiation therapy to parts of the body with cancer.
• Radiation therapy alone to areas of the body with cancer or to the mantle field (neck, chest, armpits).
• Clinical trials of new combinations of chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy.

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with stage I adult Hodgkin lymphoma ¹ and stage II adult Hodgkin lymphoma ². For more specific results, refine the search by using other search features, such as the location of the trial, the type of treatment, or the name of the drug. General information about clinical trials is available from the NCI Web site ³.

Treatment of early unfavorable Hodgkin lymphoma may include the following:

• Combination chemotherapy with or without radiation therapy to parts of the body with cancer.
• Clinical trials of new combinations of chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy.

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with stage I adult Hodgkin lymphoma ¹ and stage II adult Hodgkin lymphoma ². For more specific results, refine the search by using other search features, such as the location of the trial, the type of treatment, or the name of the drug. General information about clinical trials is available from the NCI Web site ³.

Treatment of advanced favorable Hodgkin lymphoma may include the following:

• Combination chemotherapy with or without radiation therapy to parts of the body with cancer.
• Clinical trials of new combinations of chemotherapy.

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with stage III adult Hodgkin lymphoma ⁴ and stage IV adult Hodgkin lymphoma ⁵. For more specific results, refine the search by using other search features, such as the location of the trial, the type of treatment, or the name of the drug. General information about clinical trials is available from the NCI Web site ³.

Treatment of advanced unfavorable Hodgkin lymphoma may include the following:

• Combination chemotherapy.
• Clinical trials of new combinations of chemotherapy.
• A clinical trial of high-dose chemotherapy and stem cell transplant using the patient's own stem cells.

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with stage III adult Hodgkin lymphoma ⁴ and stage IV adult Hodgkin lymphoma ⁵. For more specific results, refine the search by using other search features, such as the location of the trial, the type of treatment, or the name of the drug. General information about clinical trials is available from the NCI Web site ³.

Treatment of recurrent Hodgkin lymphoma may include the following:

• Combination chemotherapy.
• Combination chemotherapy followed by high-dose chemotherapy and stem cell transplant with or without radiation therapy.
• Radiation therapy with or without chemotherapy.
• Chemotherapy as palliative therapy to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life.
• A clinical trial of high-dose chemotherapy and stem cell transplant.
• A clinical trial of lower-dose chemotherapy and radiation therapy followed by stem cell transplant.

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with recurrent adult Hodgkin lymphoma ⁶. For more specific results, refine the search by using other search features, such as the location of the trial, the type of treatment, or the name of the drug. General information about clinical trials is available from the NCI Web site ³.

When Hodgkin lymphoma is diagnosed in the first trimester of pregnancy, it does not necessarily mean that the woman will be advised to end the pregnancy. Each woman's treatment will depend on the stage of the lymphoma, how fast it is growing, and her wishes. For women who choose to continue the pregnancy, treatment of Hodgkin lymphoma during the first trimester of pregnancy may include the following:

• Watchful waiting when the cancer is above the diaphragm and is slow-growing. Delivery may be induced when the fetus is 32 to 36 weeks old so the mother can begin treatment.
• Radiation therapy above the diaphragm. (A lead shield is used to protect the fetus from the radiation as much as possible.)
• Systemic chemotherapy using one or more drugs.

When Hodgkin lymphoma is diagnosed in the second half of pregnancy, most women can delay treatment until after the baby is born. Treatment of Hodgkin lymphoma during the second half of pregnancy may include the following:

• Watchful waiting, with plans to induce delivery when the fetus is 32 to 36 weeks old.
• Systemic chemotherapy using one or more drugs.
• Steroid therapy.
• Radiation therapy to relieve breathing problems caused by a large tumor in the chest.

Glossary Terms

A term for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control and can invade nearby tissues. Cancer cells can also spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems. There are several main types of cancer. Carcinoma is cancer that begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover internal organs. Sarcoma is cancer that begins in bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, or other connective or supportive tissue. Leukemia is cancer that starts in blood-forming tissue such as the bone marrow, and causes large numbers of abnormal blood cells to be produced and enter the blood. Lymphoma and multiple myeloma are cancers that begin in the cells of the immune system. Central nervous system cancers are cancers that begin in the tissues of the brain and spinal cord.

Treatment with drugs that kill cancer cells.

A type of research study that tests how well new medical approaches work in people. These studies test new methods of screening, prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of a disease. Also called clinical study.

Treatment using more than one anticancer drug.

The process of identifying a disease, such as cancer, from its signs and symptoms.

The thin muscle below the lungs and heart that separates the chest from the abdomen.

Any substance, other than food, that is used to prevent, diagnose, treat or relieve symptoms of a disease or abnormal condition. Also refers to a substance that alters mood or body function, or that can be habit-forming or addictive, especially a narcotic.

The developing offspring from 7 to 8 weeks after conception until birth.

An intensive drug treatment to kill cancer cells, but that also destroys the bone marrow and can cause other severe side effects. High-dose chemotherapy is usually followed by bone marrow or stem cell transplantation to rebuild the bone marrow.

A cancer of the immune system that is marked by the presence of a type of cell called the Reed-Sternberg cell. The two major types of Hodgkin lymphoma are classical Hodgkin lymphoma and nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma. Symptoms include the painless enlargement of lymph nodes, spleen, or other immune tissue. Other symptoms include fever, weight loss, fatigue, or night sweats. Also called Hodgkin disease.

The area of the neck, chest, and lymph nodes in the armpit that are exposed to radiation.

Treatment given to relieve the symptoms and reduce the suffering caused by cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Palliative cancer therapies are given together with other cancer treatments, from the time of diagnosis, through treatment, survivorship, recurrent or advanced disease, and at the end of life.

The overall enjoyment of life. Many clinical trials assess the effects of cancer and its treatment on the quality of life. These studies measure aspects of an individual’s sense of well-being and ability to carry out various activities.

Energy released in the form of particle or electromagnetic waves. Common sources of radiation include radon gas, cosmic rays from outer space, medical x-rays, and energy given off by a radioisotope (unstable form of a chemical element that releases radiation as it breaks down and becomes more stable).

The use of high-energy radiation from x-rays, gamma rays, neutrons, protons, and other sources to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation may come from a machine outside the body (external-beam radiation therapy), or it may come from radioactive material placed in the body near cancer cells (internal radiation therapy). Systemic radiation therapy uses a radioactive substance, such as a radiolabeled monoclonal antibody, that travels in the blood to tissues throughout the body. Also called irradiation and radiotherapy.

Cancer that has recurred (come back), usually after a period of time during which the cancer could not be detected. The cancer may come back to the same place as the original (primary) tumor or to another place in the body. Also called recurrence.

The extent of a cancer in the body. Staging is usually based on the size of the tumor, whether lymph nodes contain cancer, and whether the cancer has spread from the original site to other parts of the body.

A cell from which other types of cells develop. For example, blood cells develop from blood-forming stem cells.

A method of replacing immature blood-forming cells that were destroyed by cancer treatment. The stem cells are given to the person after treatment to help the bone marrow recover and continue producing healthy blood cells.

Treatment with corticosteroid drugs to reduce swelling, pain, and other symptoms of inflammation.

An indication that a person has a condition or disease. Some examples of symptoms are headache, fever, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and pain.

Treatment with anticancer drugs that travel through the blood to cells all over the body.

An abnormal mass of tissue that results when cells divide more than they should or do not die when they should. Tumors may be benign (not cancer), or malignant (cancer). Also called neoplasm.

Closely monitoring a patient's condition but withholding treatment until symptoms appear or change. Also called active surveillance, expectant management, and observation.