Hodgkin’s disease Nursing Assignment

Introduction: It is a kind of blood cancer or lymphoma which generates from the lymphatic system. Hodgkin’s disease is also called Hodgkin disease or Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The immune system of the body can destroy any foreign element only by the lymphatic system. Lymphocytes or white blood cells are the soldiers of the body that help in the fight against germs and infections. But as the disease spreads in the body, these lymphocytes divide abnormally as a result difficulty arises in fighting against foreign entities.

Symptoms: The symptoms include:

• Swelling of lymph nodes.
• Sweating in the night.
• High temperature.
• Weight loss.
• Pain in the chest, trouble in breathing.
• Enlarged spleen.

Stages of Hodgkin’s disease:

Stage1: The cancer is spotted in a single lymph node of a single organ.

Stage2: The cancer is spotted in both the side of the lymph node of a single organ.

Stage3: The cancer is spotted in both the side of the lymph node of a single organ and nearby organ also.

Stage4: The cancer is spotted inside and outside of the lymph node and spread to the other organ such as bone marrow, lungs, liver.

Diagnosis:

• X-ray or CTscan.
• Lymphnodebiopsy: The process involves the presence of cancerous cells by removing a lymph node tissues.
• Completebloodcount: To count the number of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.
• Immunophenotyping: To test the kind of cancer cell present.
• Echocardiogram: To perform the function of the heart.
• Lungsfunctiontest: To determine the function of the lungs.
• Bonemarrowbiopsy: The removal of bone marrow cells to check the presence of cancer cells.

Treatment:

• Radiationtherapy: A high energy beam of radiation is used to destroy cancer as well as the tumor cells.
• Chemotherapy: A medication process is used to kill cancer cells. The medications can also be given orally or intravenous for specific medications.
• Immunotherapy: A stem cell is transplanted removing cancerous cells. The process is used when the radiation therapy and chemotherapy are not useful.