Elephants and Tea: Hodgkin Lymphoma Issue 2021 - 26

Advocacy Guide
NAVIGATING YOUR HODGKIN
LYMPHOMA TREATMENT DECISION
After a Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis, it's important to be able to advocate for your health, which includes preparing
questions you want to ask your healthcare provider (HCP) about your recommended treatment plan. If you do not
understand the information your HCP gives you, ask for it to be explained in a different way. Taking an active role
during these conversations will help you feel confident to make a treatment decision that is right for you.
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WHAT EXACTLY IS MY HODGKIN LYMPHOMA DIAGNOSIS?
It is important to know the type of Hodgkin lymphoma you have because it will help determine your treatment options. There
are two types of Hodgkin lymphoma: classical Hodgkin lymphoma, which is the more common type, and Nodular lymphocytepredominant
Hodgkin lymphoma. Classical Hodgkin lymphoma is further divided into four subtypes: Nodular Sclerosis, Mixed
Cellularity, Lymphocyte-rich, and Lymphocyte-depleted. 1
WHAT STAGE IS MY HODGKIN LYMPHOMA?
Hodgkin lymphoma is diagnosed by stage. The stages-1, 2, 3, and 4-are determined by how much the disease has spread from a
single lymph node region to the rest of the body. Your doctor will know how far the Hodgkin lymphoma has progressed through
imaging scans, physical exams and other tests. 2
WHAT TESTS ARE ADMINISTERED TO DIAGNOSE HODGKIN LYMPHOMA?
Doctors use many tests to find, or diagnose, Hodgkin lymphoma and also whether it has spread to another part of the body.
Doctors may also do tests to learn which treatments could work best.
At a physical exam, your doctor checks for swollen lymph nodes, including in your neck, underarm and groin, as well as a swollen
spleen or liver. 3
Blood tests are conducted to see if anything in your blood indicates the possibility of cancer. Imaging tests, such as X-ray, CT, and
positron emission tomography (PET), may also be conducted to look for signs of Hodgkin lymphoma in other areas of your body. 4
Your doctor may recommend a lymph node biopsy procedure to remove a lymph node for laboratory testing. He/she will diagnose
classical Hodgkin lymphoma if abnormal cells (called Reed-Sternberg cells) are found within the lymph node. In addition, a bone
marrow biopsy and aspiration procedure will involve inserting a needle into your hipbone to remove a sample of bone marrow. The
sample is analyzed to look for Hodgkin lymphoma cells. 5
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HODGKIN LYMPHOMA ISSUE 2021
TO HEAR STORIES AND EXPERIENCES FROM PEOPLE FACED WITH A HODGKIN LYMPHOMA

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Elephants and Tea: Hodgkin Lymphoma Issue 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Elephants and Tea: Hodgkin Lymphoma Issue 2021