Tag Archives: Hodgkin Lymphoma

The risk factors include:
• Certain viruses: Having an infection with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) or the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) may increase the risk of developing Hodgkin lymphoma. However, lymphoma is not contagious. You cannot catch lymphoma from another person.

• Weakened immune system: The risk of developing Hodgkin lymphoma may be increased by having a weakened immune system (such as from an inherited condition or certain drugs used after an organ transplant).

• Age: Hodgkin lymphoma is most common among teens and adults aged 15 to 35 years and adults aged 55 years and older.

• Family history: Family members, especially brothers and sisters, of a person with Hodgkin lymphoma or other lymphomas may have an increased chance of developing this disease.

Having one or more risk factors does not mean that a person will develop Hodgkin lymphoma. Most people who have risk factors never develop cancer.

Hodgkin Lymphoma can cause many symptoms:

• Swollen lymph nodes (that do not hurt) in the neck, underarms, or groin
• Becoming more sensitive to the effects of alcohol or having painful lymph nodes after drinking alcohol
• Weight loss for no known reason
• Fever that does not go away
• Soaking night sweats
• Itchy skin
• Coughing, trouble breathing, or chest pain
• Weakness and tiredness that don’t go away

Most often, these symptoms are not due to cancer. Infections or other health problems may also cause these symptoms. Anyone with symptoms that last more than 2 weeks should see a doctor so that problems.

Adapted from National Cancer Institute

My fight is over, and I am alive!

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In 2009, at only 19 years, Chepng’etich was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma with only 6 months to live.  She had just completed her first year at in Moi University, Eldoret when she started losing weight and sweating a lot. This drastic weight loss got her mother worried and she went for malaria and typhoid tests. She tested positive for typhoid and was put on medication immediately. However, she got worse with the night sweating even more severe.

In June, a friend noticed some swellings all around her neck with one protruding abnormally. Thinking it had something to do with her thyroid gland; she decided to go to a physician. He sent to her to a surgeon, who immediately recommended surgery to remove one of the many growths for pathology. The results came, and it was a teary eyed mother who had to tell her that she had Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

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A series of intensive chemotherapy, radiotherapy and physiotherapy was done, after which subsequent tests showed there was complete tumour resolution. “The fight was over, and I was alive”.