Hodgkin’s lymphoma treatment at GenesisCare

Hodgkin’s lymphoma (or Hodgkin’s disease) is cancer that develops in the lymphatic system. This is a network of vessels throughout the body which plays an essential role in the immune system. In Hodgkin’s lymphoma, the white blood cells that fight infection called B-lymphocytes increase abnormally. They gather in the lymphatic system, including the glands (lymph nodes), and stop fighting infection properly.  

Hodgkin’s lymphoma can develop at any age and is slightly more common in men than women. According to Cancer Research UK, 2,000 new cases of Hodgkin’s lymphoma are diagnosed every year in the UK. However, early diagnosis and treatment can result in a positive outcome for many. 

We are the UK’s leading specialist private cancer care provider. By choosing us, you can be reassured that your treatment will be managed by a team of specialists working together with you, to decide the best personalised care plan for your diagnosis. 

It is our commitment to offering world-class care to every patient with cancer. 

There are a number of options of treatment available for Hodgkin’s lymphoma at GenesisCare, such as:  

• Chemotherapy – anti-cancer (cytotoxic) drugs which destroy the cancerous cells 
• Targeted therapy – a specialised group of drugs that attack or block certain processes in the cancer cells, causing them to die  
• Radiotherapy – high-energy radiation beams which are targeted at the cancer cells 
• Transplants – replace abnormal blood cells and damaged stem cells 

At GenesisCare, we diagnose and treat a wide range of cancers, and we understand that this can be a very worrying time for you. Our diagnostic services are first-class, and our commitment is to give you the answers you need, as quickly as possible. It’s important to remember that symptoms can often be caused by conditions other than Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Whatever your diagnosis, we can make sure you get the expert care you need and without delay. 

If you’re concerned about Hodgkin’s lymphoma symptoms, we offer fast access to specialist Hodgkin’s lymphoma tests and diagnostics. We also offer a dedicated Rapid Access Haematology Service at some of our centres. Here you’ll see one of our expert consultants who specialise in blood and bone marrow cancers. They’ll assess your symptoms and, if necessary, refer you for diagnostic tests such as PET/CT and CT scans, lymph node biopsy and bone marrow aspirate biopsy. Appointments are usually available within 24 hours. 

The most common symptom of Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a painless swelling in a lymph node, often in the neck, armpit or groin. 

Other signs can include: 

• Abdominal pain 
• Fever 
• Breathlessness 
• Fatigue 
• Unexplained weight loss 
• Itchy skin  
• Sweating throughout the night 

If you have any concerns, you should seek medical advice or book an appointment through our Rapid Access Haematology Service. 

Our centres have all received the Macmillan Quality Environment Mark to reflect the high quality of care we provide for people living with cancer. 

There are different types of drug treatments, also called systemic anti-cancer therapies. Our expert teams continually review and assess new treatments to make these available to GenesisCare patients as early as possible. 

Chemotherapy for Hodgkin’s lymphoma 

Chemotherapy uses cytotoxic (anti-cancer) drugs to destroy cancer cells. Chemotherapy for Hodgkin’s lymphoma can be delivered on its own or in combination with other treatments, such as radiotherapy (chemoradiation) or steroids. 

If initial treatment doesn’t improve your condition, you may have a course of high-dose chemotherapy. Intensive chemotherapy can successfully treat Hodgkin’s lymphoma, however, your haematologist may recommend a stem cell or bone marrow transplant alongside this treatment. 

Targeted therapy for Hodgkin’s lymphoma 

Targeted (also called biological) therapies are a specialised group of drugs that are designed to attack or block certain processes in cancer cells that tumours depend on to survive and grow. Monoclonal antibodies (MABs) are the primary type of targeted therapy for Hodgkin’s lymphoma. They usually work by encouraging your body’s immune system to attack and destroy the lymphoma cells. In some cases, MABs can also deliver toxic chemotherapy directly into the lymphoma cell. 

Palliative care 

If your cancer has spread to other parts of the body, it’s called advanced Hodgkin lymphoma. At GenesisCare, you can receive palliative drug treatment for advanced Hodgkin lymphoma to reduce the size and slow the progress of your cancer, as well as ease any symptoms.   

Personalised medicine 

For some advanced cancers, we use specialist tests, such as liquid biopsy or genomic testing, to understand the genetic make-up of cancer cells. This helps us to identify which drugs are available to work against the particular genetic mutations in a cancer, allowing us to start effective treatment without delay. 

Clinical trials  

There may be opportunities to access clinical trials for the newest treatments for Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Clinical trials can be considered a suitable treatment option if you’ve exhausted standard therapies or evidence suggests the trial treatment will be more successful at treating your condition. Your haematologist will discuss these opportunities in more detail with you.  

Drug treatment side effects 

No treatment is without side effects. Your doctor will explain these to you depending on your drug treatment, together with the ways your treatment plan and supportive care can help manage or minimise these. 

No treatment is without side effects. Your doctor will explain these to you before you start your course of radiotherapy, together with the ways your treatment plan and supportive care can help manage or minimise these. 

Stem cells are early types of cells which are found in your bone marrow and can develop into red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.  

Stem cell transplants are more commonly used than bone marrow transplants when treating Hodgkin’s lymphoma. You may have an allogeneic stem cell transplant, where the stem cells are from a donor, or an autologous stem cell transplant, where the stem cells are collected from your body before treatment.  

No treatment is without side effects. Your doctor will explain these to you, together with the ways in which your treatment plan and supportive care can help manage or minimise these. 

Exercise medicine is a personalised programme of carefully planned and supported physical activity that has been shown to improve outcomes for cancer patients, enhancing quality of life and limiting the impact of cancer, such as by improving strength and reducing fatigue. One of our physiotherapists specialising in exercise for people living with cancer will provide a 12-week programme tailored to your needs and supported by our dedicated GenesisCare Exercise Medicine app. They’ll work closely with you to monitor changes in your health and support you throughout the programme to help you get the best results. This is available at selected GenesisCare centres. 

We also offer a wellbeing expert and holistic therapies such as counselling, acupuncture, massage and reflexology through our unique partnership with the Penny Brohn UK charity. This service is available to all large bowel cancer patients at any of our 14 UK centres.  

Our dedicated cancer centres are convenient and easy-to-access. You can use your private medical insurance, and we’re recognised by all leading insurers. 

We are proud that so many patients rate our care as excellent as we help them through their cancer journey. Find out more about the unique experiences of people who have had their cancer diagnosis or treatment at GenesisCare in our patient stories section.