Treatment decisions for Hodgkin's disease are complex. Before starting treatment, an individual is encouraged to obtain a second opinion about the diagnosis and recommended therapy from another physician. Treatment for Hodgkin's disease usually includes radiation therapy or chemotherapy. Sometimes, both are given. Treatment decisions depend on the stage of the disease, its location in the body, which symptoms are present, and the general health and age of the patient.
Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to damage cancer cells and stop their growth.
Radiation therapy is generally given in a hospital or clinic. Most often, individuals receive radiation therapy 5 days a week for several weeks as outpatients. Weekend rest periods allow time for healthy tissue to recover Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to kill cancer cells. To treat Hodgkin's disease, the doctor usually recommends a combination of drugs that work together. The drugs travel through the bloodstream to almost every part of the body.