Non-Hodgkin's Vs. Hodgkin'slymphoma Essay

HODGKIN'S VS NON-HODGKIN'S LYMPHOMA

The objective of this study is to examine Hodgkin's versus Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma and whether the treatment and prognosis has higher chances and if that is true then why.

Both Hodgkin's and Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma are stated to be "cancers that originate in a type of white blood cell known As a lymphocyte, an important component of the body's immune system." (Stippler, 2014, p. 1) Both of these malignancies are reported to result in symptoms that are similar although the conditions of Hodgkin's and Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma are differentiated through "biopsy or aspiration of the tumor tissue." (Stippler, 2014, p. 1) It is reported that "The type of abnormal cells identified in the sample determines whether a lymphoma is classified as Hodgkin's disease or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma." (Stippler, 2014, p. 1)

Hodgkin's Versus Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

It is reported that the most common of the two is Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma however "In the United States, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is the sixth most common cancer among males and the fifth most common cancer among females. Furthermore, the incidence of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma has been steadily increasing over the last decades. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is actually a heterogeneous group of over 30 types of cancers with differences in the microscopic appearance and biological characterization of the malignant lymphocytes. The different types of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma also have differences in their biologic behavior (such as the tendency to grow aggressively) that affect a patient's overall outlook (prognosis)." (Stippler, 2014, p. 1)

II. Prognosis

Prognosis is based on the following factors:

he patient's age

The stage of the lymphoma

Whether or not the lymphoma is in organs outside the lymph system

Performance status (PS) -- how well a person can complete normal daily activities

The blood (serum) level of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), which goes up with the amount of lymphoma in the body. (American Cancer Society, 2015, p. 1)

III. Classification of Lymphomas

According to the American Cancer Society there are four groups of individuals classified with lymphomas including the following:

Low (0 or 1 poor prognostic factors)

Low intermediate (2 poor prognostic factors)

High intermediate (3 poor prognostic factors)

High (4 or 5 poor prognostic factors)

Summary and Conclusion

When comparing Hodgkin's and Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma prognoses, the prognosis for Hodgkin's Lymphoma is found to have better outcomes.

References

Survival rates and factors that affect prognosis (outlook) for non-Hodgkin lymphoma (2014) American Cancer Society. Retrieved from: http://www.cancer.org/cancer/non-hodgkinlymphoma/detailedguide/non-hodgkin-lymphoma-factors-prognosis

Stippler, MC (2014)…