Hodgkin's disease is a type of lymphoma. Lymphomas are cancers that develop in the lymphatic system, part of the body's immune system. The job of the lymphatic system is to help fight diseases and infection. The lymphatic system includes a network of thin tubes that branch, like blood vessels, into the tissues throughout the body. Lymphatic vessels carry lymph, a colorless, watery fluid that contains infection-fighting cells called lymphocytes.

If Hodgkin's disease is suspected, the doctor will ask about your medical history and will do a thorough physical exam. Blood tests and x-rays of the chest, bones, liver and spleen will also be done. Tissue from an enlarged lymph node will be removed. This is known as a biopsy. It is the only sure way to tell if cancer is present. A pathologist will look at the tissue under the microscope for Reed-Sternberg cells, abnormal cells that are usually found with Hodgkin's disease.

Treatment decisions for Hodgkin's disease are complex. Before starting treatment, the patient might want a second doctor to review the diagnosis and treatment plan. Treatment for Hodgkin's disease usually includes radiation therapy or chemotherapy. Sometimes, both are given. Treatment decisions depend on the stage of disease, its location in the body, which symptoms are present, and the general health and age of the patient.

The following are the most common symptoms of Hodgkin's disease. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include: The symptoms of Hodgkin's disease may resemble other blood disorders or medical problems, such as influenza or other infections. Always consult your physician for a diagnosis.

Infection with the Epstein-Barr virus that causes mononucleosis (also called “mono”) has been linked to Hodgkin’s disease. Hodgkin's disease occurs most often in people between ages 15 and 34, and in people over the age of 55. Brothers and sisters of those with Hodgkin's disease have a higher-than-average chance of developing this disease.

When you see your doctor or other medical personnel for your disease, you might hear the words "Hodgkin's disease" mentioned. Remember, sarcoidosis may look like Hodgkin's disease, but it is not related to Hodgkin's disease. No. Sarcoidosis does not cause diabetes, but prednisone, used for treating sarcoidosis, may cause diabetes in those patients who are predisposed to develop diabetes.

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) is cancer of the cells of the lymphatic system. In non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, cells in the lymphatic system either divide and grow without order or control, or old cells do not die as cells normally do. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma can start almost anywhere in the body. It may occur in a single lymph node, a group of lymph nodes, or an organ such as the spleen. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma can spread to almost any part of the body, including the liver, bone marrow, and spleen.

The cause of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is not known. The incidence of NHL has continued to increase over the years. When a person has non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, abnormal rapid cell growth occurs. This abnormal growth may be triggered by an infection or exposure to something in the environment. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is not contagious.

When non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is suspected, a piece of tissue (biopsy) must be obtained to confirm the diagnosis. Occasionally this can be done by inserting a needle into a lymph node, but usually the entire lymph node must be removed. The piece of tissue is then analyzed under a microscope by a pathologist to see whether NHL is present.

Lymphoma cells have the ability to spread beyond the original site.

There are many different types of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Over the years, experts have used a variety of terms to classify these different types. Most often, they are grouped by how the cancer cells look under a microscope and how quickly they are likely to grow and spread. Aggressive lymphomas, also known as intermediate- and high-grade lymphomas, tend to grow and spread quickly and cause severe symptoms.

The H5N1 strain of avian flu has been found in Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Japan, the Philippines, Mongolia, Malaysia, and North Korea. More recently it has spread to Russia and Kazakhstan. In 2003, there was an outbreak of the highly pathogenic H7N7 strain in the Netherlands and Germany.

The five-year survival (the amount of people alive five years after detection of the disease) is 14% and, until now, has NOT changed significantly in the past 25 years.

Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL) is a cancer that starts in the lymphatic system. Most people are familiar with lymph nodes; however the lymphatic system is a complex network of organs, ducts and nodes that interact with the blood circulatory system. The system of lymphatic vessels run throughout the body and connect lymph organs (bone marrow, spleen, thymus and lymph nodes (glands)). Circulating through the lymph system are white blood cells called lymphocytes.

Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma is the sixth most common cancer in the USA. Although people of any age can develop NHL, the risk increases with age. More than half the cases are in people age 60 years and older. It is estimated that 56,000 new cases of NHL were diagnosed in the USA in 2003.

There are some excellent organizations dedicated to providing comprehensive, up-to-date information for patients and their families on the disease information, current treatments, research, clinical trials and support services. Below are the organizations and their web sites. Lymphoma Research Foundation www.lymphoma.org The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society www.leukemia-lymphoma.org Lymphoma Focus www.lymphomafocus.org American Cancer Society www.cancer.org National Cancer Institute www.cancer.

The cells of each of these diseases look different under a microscope. They also spread differently. Hodgkin's spreads in a more predictable way and not as much as non-Hodgkin's.

A malfunction in the immune system is certainly a part of Crohn's disease. This may be an inability to "turn off" the immune system after it "turns on" for an appropriate reason. Or, the immune system may "turn on" for the wrong reason. Immunosuppressive medications used to keep individuals from rejecting transplanted organs have been shown to be effective in treating Crohn's disease. These factors have led many researchers to characterize Crohn's disease as autoimmune.

Heartworm disease is a serious disease in cats especially in males, and outdoor cats. It is diagnosed in both indoor and indoor-outdoor cats. It is suggested that the reason for finding heartworm positive cats is that cat's nature may swallow different mosquitos or any thing that flies which may be the vector. The clinical signs and diagnosis is different from that in dogs.

Heart disease is a number of abnormal conditions affecting the heart and the blood vessels in the heart. Types of heart disease include: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common type and is the leading cause of heart attacks. When you have CAD, your arteries become hard and narrow. Blood has a hard time getting to the heart, so the heart does not get all the blood it needs. CAD can lead to: Angina. Angina is chest pain or discomfort that happens when the heart does not get enough blood.

Bowen's disease is a precancerous lesion, the malignant cells being restricted to the top skin layer. It appears as a red, scaly or crusted lesion, and may be located anywhere on the skin, including non-sun-exposed skin surfaces.

Cerebrovascular disease is one of the most devastating and misunderstood epidemics of our time. More than 700,000 American suffer a major cerebrovascular event - most likely a stroke - each year.

Yes, alcoholism is a disease. The craving that an alcoholic feels for alcohol can be as strong as the need for food or water. An alcoholic will continue to drink despite serious family, health, or legal problems. Like many other diseases, alcoholism is chronic, meaning that it lasts a person's lifetime; it usually follows a predictable course; and it has symptoms. The risk for developing alcoholism is influenced both by a person's genes and by his or her lifestyle.

The term “disease management” as defined by the Disease Management Association of America (DMAA) is a system of coordinated healthcare interventions and communications for populations with conditions in which patient self-care efforts are significant.

Legionnaire's disease is a form of pneumonia caused by a bacterium, Legionella pneumophilia. It was first discovered following an outbreak at an American Legion convention in a Philadelphia hotel in 1976. However, after the organism was isolated, some earlier pneumonia outbreaks were investigated and it was verified that earlier cases had occurred.

Between 80 percent and 90 percent of patients get better on their own in about a week. The other 10 percent to 20 percent get worse, with many ending up in intensive care and requiring mechanical ventilators to help them breathe. About 6 percent die.