Hodgkin lymphoma has become an incredibly treatable cancer, with most patients today going on to become long-term survivors. But this research is an important reminder that being cured does not always mean the health effects of Hodgkin lymphoma end when treatment does.
Many long-term survivors were diagnosed before genetic testing was commonly offered, but that does not mean it is too late to benefit from it. This article highlights a study showing that some survivors may still carry inherited variants that could affect their future screening, follow-up care, and even family members’ health decisions. It is an encouraging reminder that new information can still make a meaningful difference, even years after treatment.
For many long-term survivors, late effects are not new, but it is encouraging to see the medical literature continuing to validate just how serious and long-lasting they can be. This important article reports that survivors of childhood cancer age 50 and older still face higher risks of second cancers, serious chronic health problems, frailty, and premature death, especially those who were treated with radiation. It is a powerful reminder that these health issues are real, treatment-related, and deserving of lifelong follow-up and screening.
For many survivors who need a valve replacement, one of the biggest questions is how long the new valve will last. This recent HeartValveSurgery.com update shares encouraging 10-year results from the COMMENCE trial, suggesting strong durability for the INSPIRIS RESILIA tissue valve and low rates of repeat surgery. It is hopeful news for survivors looking for reassurance about long-term outcomes.
By Sophia Smith, PhD, Chair of Hodgkin’s International
During my sabbatical at the Netherlands Cancer Institute (NKI), I have been working closely with investigators affiliated with the BETER program, one of the world’s most comprehensive survivorship initiatives for people treated for Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). BETER (short for Better care after HL) was established to systematically identify, prevent, and manage the long-term and late adverse effects of HL treatment using a risk-based, personalized follow-up approach. Embedded within BETER is the INSIGHT study,
It can be so validating to hear another survivor’s story. In Coping Magazine, Nicole shares her experience with two cancer diagnoses, fertility struggles, treatment, and what she has learned from cancer.
New research out of Weill Cornell Medicine reveals an updated understanding of how Hodgkin lymphoma cells originate and evade immune detection. These findings could result in new diagnostic markers that will help differentiate between Hodgkin lymphoma and other cancers with similar symptoms.
As more people live many years beyond cancer, it is becoming increasingly clear that survivorship does not end when treatment does. A recent article in Knowable Magazine explores the growing need for better care after cancer, especially for survivors still dealing with lasting effects years later. These can include heart problems, cognitive changes, infertility, second cancers, and emotional challenges. The article is a helpful reminder that survivorship care should be about more than remission. It should also support long-term health,
Radiation therapy, like surgery and chemotherapy, is a mainstay of cancer treatment. The reason radiation is used to treat cancer is that it is usually toxic to the fast growing cancer cells while supposedly having little adverse effects on the slow growing and relatively radiation resistant normal body cells. Unfortunately, normal cells are often affected by radiation in a variety of ways, especially over time.