Hodgkin's Disease - Description

Hodgkin's lymphoma can occur at any age. It is most common, however, in people between the ages of fifteen and thirty-four and after the age of sixty. An understanding of the lymphatic system is necessary in order to understand the nature of Hodgkin's lymphoma.

The Lymphatic System

Lymph is usually a clear, colorless liquid that forms in the space between cells throughout the body. It consists of waste products from those cells.

Lymph is drained into tiny vessels, like blood vessels. These vessels form a network of tubes that eventually leads to large veins at the base of the neck and inside the abdomen. At various points in this network, lymph passes through small lumps of tissue known as lymph nodes.

Lymph nodes contain special kinds of cells that act as filters. These cells remove foreign substances, such as viruses, bacteria, and cancer cells, from lymph. For this reason, they are part of the body's immune system, protecting it from infection.

One kind of cell found in lymph is a white blood cell called a lymphocyte. The role of lymphocytes is to identify foreign bodies in lymph and to help eliminate those materials from the lymph.

Cancer of the Lymph System

Cancer is a condition in which cells grow out of control (see cancer entry). Cancer can appear in any part of the lymph system. Cells within a lymph node, for example, may begin to grow rapidly. They may take on unusual shapes and begin to spread throughout the body. Cancers that affect any part of the lymph system are known as lymphomas.