 | This is an excellent question! As we've discussed before, Hodgkin's lymphoma is one of the most common types of cancers to occur in adolescents and young adults. This type of cancer develops in the lymph nodes and can spread to nearby lymph nodes. It is often first diagnosed when a patient or doctor notices an unusual lump or bump, or if the patient is having difficulty breathing (because the tumor may be pressing on the bronchi [breathing tubes] in the lungs). Sometimes patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma may have unexplained fevers, night sweats, and even weight loss. Fortunately, Hodgkin's lymphoma (or Hodgkin's Disease, as it is sometimes called) is one of the most curable types of cancers. Depending on the Stage, more than 90% of patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma can be cured. Treatment often consists of chemotherapy followed by radiation therapy. This month's question refers to drinking alcohol with Hodgkin's lymphoma. As a general rule, while undergoing any type of treatment, it's always smart to check with your physician before taking any other type of drug, medicine, or unusual food. This is because any of these things may effect how the treatment works. This is especially true with alcohol – which has sometimes been called a "dirty drug" – because it affects so many different parts of the body at once. Not only does alcohol affect your motor skills and brain function, it also can interact with your liver and even your metabolism. This potentially could interfere with the chemotherapy making it stronger or weaker. Even though drinking a small amount of alcohol (like the occasional glass of wine) should not cause too much trouble, you still should discuss the potential treatment interactions with your doctor or pharmacist.
As an interesting aside, drinking alcohol has been linked to Hodgkin's lymphoma in a very fascinating way. Hodgkin's lymphoma is one of the only cancers that patients will report "pain in their lymph nodes" when drinking alcohol. Nobody knows why this is, but there are many published reports of the connection between sips of alcohol and pain where the cancer is located. In fact, several skilled physicians have even been able to make the diagnosis of Hodgkin's lymphoma with nothing more than a history of an unusual lump and pain in that lump while having a drink of wine! Keep those great questions coming!!! |
