Definition

Hodgkin's disease is a cancer of the lymphatic (pronounced lim-FAT-ic) system. The lymphatic system consists of blood vessels, tissues, and other structures that carry lymph (pronounced limf) through the body. Lymph is a bloodlike fluid that carries substances from cells to blood vessels.

A variety of cancers can affect lymph tissue. These cancers are called lymphomas. Hodgkin's disease is one kind of lymphoma. It is also called Hodgkin's lymphoma. The cause of Hodgkin's disease is unknown. Many experts believe that genetic and environmental factors work together to cause the disease.

Description

Hodgkin's lymphoma can occur at any age. It is most common, however, in people between the ages of fifteen and thirty-four and after the age of sixty. An understanding of the lymphatic system is necessary in order to understand the nature of Hodgkin's lymphoma.

The Lymphatic System

Lymph is usually...