Understanding Hodgkin Lymphoma
- Comedian Alex Hooper recently announced his Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis. But he’s planning on handling his cancer journey with the same laughter and positivity his fans know and love.
- Lymphoma, in general, is a cancer of the immune system that begins in the white blood cells called lymphocytes. There are more than 40 different types of the disease, but Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma are the main two sub-categories with the latter being more common.
- Early symptoms of lymphoma can be tricky to notice as they may include swollen lymph nodes, fatigue or unexplained weight loss.
- According to the American Society of Clinical Oncology, follow-up visits are usually scheduled every 3 to 4 months for the first 1 to 2 years after treatment is completed for Hodgkin lymphoma, then visits may only be 2 to 3 times per year until 5 years have passed. After 4 to 5 years, patients should discuss options for long-term surveillance.
Hooper brought his comedy act to the America’s Got Talent stage not once but twice. The first time, he didn’t make it past the audition phase of the competition, but the second time was a success. His “roasting” got him all the way to the quarterfinals.
Read More“In all seriousness, I will treat this like I do everything in my life with a ton of laughter, positive energy, jokes, and nonstop fun. It’s what I do best,’ he concluded.”
His diagnosis came after he felt “some swelling inside [his] neck,” according to a recent YouTube video. He initall thought the swelling must be caused by some sort of infection, but he sought answers after the problem persisted and later tests revealed his cancer. He currently doesn’t know the exact stage of his cancer, but he knows that it is at least stage three.
“I don’t do anything in moderation, so it very well could be stage four,” he joked in another recent video.
Despite the scary diagnosis and the chemotherapy treatments ahead, Hooper is determined to remain positive. In his announcement to Instagram, he made sure fans knew exactly how he would be handling his cancer journey.
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“I'm going to treat this like I do everything: by making jokes, laughing, being silly, wearing shiny outfits, and having fun,” he wrote in his caption. “For those that want more info: there is a link in my stories with a video explaining the process thus far.
“Please continue to treat me with disgust and disrespect. It's all I've ever wanted. I love you.”
Understanding Alex Hooper’s Cancer: Hodgkin Lymphoma
Lymphoma, in general, is a cancer of the immune system that begins in the white blood cells called lymphocytes. There are more than 40 different types of the disease, but Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma are the main two sub-categories with the latter being more common.
The National Cancer Institute estimates that there will be 8,540 new cases of Hodgkin lymphoma and 80,470 new cases of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2022. The type of white blood cells linked to the disease determines the distinction. If doctors are unable to detect the Reed-Sternberg cell a giant cell derived from B lymphocytes then it is categorized as non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
In a previous interview, Dr. Elise Chong, a medical oncologist at Penn Medicine, explained that Hodgkin lymphoma is most often seen in younger adults. And although less common, it is generally easier to cure than non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
What Kind of Lymphoma Do You Have? Why Your Type Matters
Dr. Chong also said lymphoma symptoms can be difficult to detect.
"The symptoms of lymphoma, especially if you have a low-grade lymphoma, often are no symptoms," Dr. Chong explained. "People say, but I feel completely fine, and that's very normal."
Lymphoma treatment depends greatly on the nature of your specific diagnosis. For non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients, their cancer is more likely to spread in a random fashion and be found in different groups of lymph nodes in the body.
Hodgkin lymphoma cancers, on the other hand, are more likely to grow in a uniform way from one group of lymph nodes directly to another.
Some lymphomas, called indolent lymphomas, might not even need to be treated right away because they're slow-growing. In this case, careful monitoring including imaging scans such as PET/CT is used to track the progress of your cancer and gauge whether it needs treatment yet.
"Where I use PET/CT in my practice quite a bit is if I'm observing a patient … and there is some new symptom or situation which makes me concerned that the patient may be changing from an indolent lymphoma to a more aggressive lymphoma," Dr. Jakub Svoboda, medical oncologist at Penn Medicine, previously told SurvivorNet. "We refer to it as transformation."
Monitoring Hodgkin Lymphoma
Being done with treatment, unfortunately, does not mean your cancer-related care is finished, according to the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
"Care for people diagnosed with lymphoma does not end when active treatment has finished," says The American Society of Clinical Oncologists. "Your health care team will continue to check that the cancer has not come back, manage any side effects and late effects of treatment, and monitor your overall health. This is called follow-up care."
Follow-up care generally means talking with your doctor, doing a physical examination, having blood tests done, and sometimes even doing scans.
"At most cancer centers, follow-up visits are scheduled every 3 to 4 months for the first 1 to 2 years after treatment is completed, which is when the risk of recurrence is highest," the ASCO website states. "After that, the time between visits increases over time. Later visits may only be 2 to 3 times per year until 5 years have passed. After 4 to 5 years, patients should discuss options for long-term surveillance with the health care team."
Long-term surveillance can include going to a survivorship clinic in a cancer center, receiving ongoing care from your cancer care team, or transferring to a long-term plan with a primary care provider.
Quality of life is also important to consider when it comes to follow-up care. According to ASCO, Hodgkin lymphoma survivors, in particular, are encouraged to look out for symptoms of depression and to talk with their doctor immediately if they notice any signs. Always remember, your emotional health is just as important as your physical health.
Overall, every person's cancer journey looks different. Your long-term care can differ greatly from someone with the same disease, but it's important to talk with your doctor about what your individual plan should look like.
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