Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is a major treatment option for Hodgkin's lymphoma. Different chemotherapy drugs may be used alone or in combination, depending on the stage and type of Hodgkin's lymphoma. Common chemo drugs for Hodgkin's include doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, dacarbazine, etoposide and ifosfamide. Chemotherapy is usually given in cycles over several months, with rest periods in between. This helps reduce side effects while still effectively treating the cancer. chemotherapy is often an initial treatment approach, especially for more advanced Hodgkin's lymphoma stages.
Radiation Therapy
For some people with early-stage Hodgkin's lymphoma, radiation therapy may be the only treatment needed. It aims radiation specifically at lymph node regions and other areas where cancer exists or has spread. This helps kill any remaining cancer cells after chemotherapy. For later stages, radiation may be used after chemotherapy to eliminate any remaining disease. Different radiation techniques exist such as external beam radiation, which uses targeted X-rays to damage cancer cell DNA from outside the body. radiation is a local therapy that treats only the cancer areas rather than the entire body.
Stem Cell Transplant
For cases where chemotherapy and radiation do not work or the Hodgkin's Lymphoma Treatment returns after initial treatment, a stem cell transplant may offer a chance at cure. Stem cells are blood-forming cells collected from the patient or a donor. High-dose chemotherapy is given to eliminate any remaining cancer cells, which also destroys the patient's bone marrow. The harvested stem cells are then infused back into the patient to reestablish the bone marrow and immune system. This "rescue" approach delivers an intensive chemotherapy dose that regular treatment cannot safely achieve. Transplants often involve risks, but they may provide a potentially curative option for relapsed or resistant Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Monoclonal Antibodies
These treatments use man-made versions of immune system proteins called antibodies to target specific molecules on cancer cell surfaces. One antibody drug called brentuximab vedotin (Adcetris) is FDA-approved for relapsed or refractory Hodgkin's lymphoma. The antibody carries a powerful chemotherapy drug directly to Hodgkin's lymphoma cells, killing them while limiting effects on normal cells. Other monoclonal antibodies in development may provide newer treatment approaches either alone or in combination with standard therapies.
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