Hodgkin's lymphoma -- also known as Hodgkin’s disease -- is a highly curable cancer of the lymphatic system. In fact, it is so curable that, for many of us, our experience with Hodgkin's will become just one bad year out of an otherwise normal lifespan.

"If you have to get cancer," many of us survivors will say, "Hodgkin's is the kind to get." Then again, many of us will not.

Statistics back up our optimism. Five years after first being diagnosed, 85% of us will still be alive. In addition, 80% of us will be considered completely cured, having had no traces of cancer in our bodies since our treatment ended.

What is Hodgkin's lymphoma?

The lymphatic system is made up of the tissues and organs that produce, store and carry infection-fighting white blood cells called lymphocytes. Central to this system are the body's lymph nodes and lymphatic vessels, through which the white cells are carried within a clear, watery fluid called lymph.

In Hodgkin's disease, the cells of the lymphatic system reproduce abnormally, causing growth in the lymph nodes of the chest, neck or groin, or under the arm; this malignancy may then spread to other parts of the system, such as the spleen. Usually, the disease spreads to nearby nodes via lymphatic vessels rather than to more distant parts of the immune system.

There are five known types of Hodgkin's lymphoma, all of which are marked by the presence of a large, abnormal class of cells called Reed-Sternberg cells. These are thought to be errant lymphocytes.

Unlike Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease rarely travels via the bloodstream. So while it can spread through the lymphatic vessels to other parts of the body, such as the lungs, it is easier to find and treat successfully than other forms of cancer.

See also

• Hodgkin's lymphoma - prevalence and prevention
• Hodgkin's lymphoma - symptoms
• Hodgkin's lymphoma - causes and risk factors
• Hodgkin's lymphoma - detection and diagnosis
• Hodgkin's lymphoma - treatment options
• Hodgkin's lymphoma - prognosis
• Hodgkin's lymphoma - support
• Kate Gets Through