Live With Hodgkin's Disease
Hodgkin's disease, the category of cancer that affects the lymphatic system, is rare. According to the American Cancer Society, only about 4 percent of all new cancer cases are Hodgkin's disease. The survival rate is over 94 percent, making it one of the more treatable forms of cancer. Even so, it can be tough to live with the disease if you're not prepared.
Instructions
1. Ask your doctor about clinical trials. There are usually clinical trials that are looking to find more effective ways of treating Hodgkin's disease. Visit the American Cancer Society Web site (see Resources, below) to learn more about clinical trials.
2. Talk to people you love about your condition. Sometimes just talking about how you feel can have a tremendous impact on your state of mind and take away some of the your fear and anxiety.
3. Be prepared to deal with the side effects associated with treatment. You'll probably get nauseated and suffer from some fatigue. Hair loss is also a very common side effect.
4. If the patient is a child, they will probably be frightened and may need a positive example to help them to maintain courage. Always be encouraging and upbeat.
5. Remember to schedule regular follow-up appointments with your oncologist to carefully monitor your health.
Tags: clinical trials, Hodgkin disease, about clinical, about clinical trials, American Cancer