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Hodgkin is a disease that develops in the lymph nodes and extra-nodal lymph tissue. It was first described by Thomas Hodgkin in 1832 and is interchangeably called Hodgkin’s disease from his last name. Hodgkin is an insidious disease because it does not give any symptoms for a long time.
Ziarnica – recognition
Paweł, who was called up for military service as a 19-year-old boy, found out about it. During routine checkups, which also included x-rays of the lungs, it turned out that there was a large white spot in the photo. Doctors were surprised to see the film, but did not know what it was.
Paweł was immediately transported to the military hospital at ul. Szaserów in Warsaw. Nobody explained anything, said about the suspicions. At the hospital, Paweł underwent a series of tests.
“Examination was followed by examination,” he recalls. – But neither bronchoscopy, nor subsequent x-rays or blood tests made it possible to make a diagnosis. The most difficult and painful examination for me was the collection of marrow from the iliac plate. The doctor who did this probably didn’t have much experience, because it felt as if a piece of bone was being torn out alive. Later, I had the bone marrow collected a second time, but the doctor anesthetized me so well that I have no unpleasant experiences with this second examination.
After four months of research, the doctors made a diagnosis. It is Hodgkin’s disease in the first stage of advancement. Paweł was transferred to surgery. Here, during more than six hours of surgery, the surgeons tried to remove the tumor, which was an unusually overgrown lymph node in the chest. Unfortunately, it was not possible to remove it completely. Therefore, further treatment was necessary – chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Hodgkin’s treatment
In the case of Hodgkin’s disease, even late diagnosis of the disease gives a good chance of complete recovery. The basic method of treating Hodgkin’s disease is chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Operations are rarely performed, but with Paweł there was no other option. Doctors had to remove the tumor. Theoretically, in patients with stage I disease, the chances of complete recovery are, on average, 95%. patients, and with stage IV disease – 50 percent.
– When I went to the Cancer Center from a military hospital, I was very young – recalls Paweł. – To tell you the truth, I did not realize the seriousness of the situation. Neither the doctors nor my parents told me the whole truth. When I was going to have surgery, I didn’t know it was because of the cancer. When I was about to start chemotherapy, I was told it was a long-term intravenous treatment. It was only at the Cancer Center that I realized that I had cancer. People were dying around me. I must admit that I broke down a bit then. Like everyone, I asked – why me, how is it possible, why it happened. But getting answers to such questions is not easy. The disease comes and you have to deal with it.
Before Paweł started chemotherapy, the doctors offered him to deposit in a sperm bank. Someday you will want to have children, then it may come in handy. – For six months, he came to the center for chemistry every Monday. “I didn’t take the treatment well,” she admits. – From Monday to Saturday I was living next to my life, because I was haunted by vomiting. – Sunday was better, and Monday everything started anew. When I finished taking my chemo, the radiation began. Fortunately, they only lasted a month.
The causes of Hodgkin’s disease
Every year in Poland there are about a thousand new cases of Hodgkin’s disease. Statistically speaking, there are two peak cases – the first around the age of 25, and the second after the age of 50. Men are sick more often than women. Moreover, men develop complications from Hodgkin’s disease much more often than in women.
The causes of Hodgkin’s disease are still unclear. Scientists speculate that a virus infection might be the cause Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), because this virus has the ability to infect B lymphocytes. Under favorable conditions, it can cause the formation and development of neoplasms of the lymphatic system – Hodgkin’s lymphoma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Medical statistics show that he is responsible for 40 percent. Hodgkin disease. However, it is still unknown why this is so. Another hypothesis is that Hodgkin’s disease is a genetically determined disease because it has been observed that the disease runs in families.
Paul never felt any discomfort. However, tumors of the lymphatic system may have very non-specific symptoms. Most often it is an enlargement of the lymph nodes in the upper part of the body (they often do not hurt when touched), usually in the neck, armpits, over the collarbones and in the groin, long-lasting cough, broken bones, general weakness, increased temperature up to 37,5-38 C that does not improve with anti-inflammatory treatment, heavy sweating at night (called “chubby sweats”), unplanned weight loss and loss of appetite, bone pain, enlargement of the liver and spleen, and intense itching of the skin. He was a young and active man. Also, no one in his family was ill.
Hodgkin prophylaxis
After the hardships of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, Paweł quickly recovered. As he says himself, except for a short moment when a breakdown struck him, he firmly believed from the beginning that everything would end well. – Maybe because I didn’t know about everything, I didn’t think about the consequences of my illness. Besides, someone was there all the time. My girlfriend, now my wife and friends, spent a lot of time with me. We didn’t talk about the disease or the future. We talked about what happens outside the hospital, what is happening with friends. Currently, although more than 6 years have passed since the end of the treatment, Paweł does not brood over those events. He keeps repeating – it was, it has passed.
Now his heart, thoughts and time are occupied by a little daughter whom he and his wife are taking care of.
– I know that the worst is behind me, but I also know that I cannot feel completely safe – says Paweł. – This is the case with all people who are affected by cancer. My cancer may come back too, but I try not to think about it. I regularly attend check-ups and try to live, work and enjoy my family.