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Cancer

Hodgkin`s Tumor Growth Rate

11/06/2007

Question:

I was diagnosed with Hodgkin`s Lymphoma, Stage 4 Bulky with a large tumor in my mediasteinum. That was 2 years ago and thankfully after 6 cycles of ABVD Chemo it is in remission. My question is, how fast does a Hodgkin`s Tumor Grow? I am under the impression that it had to be there for years to reach the size of 8cm by 6cm. Also, during the 5 years leading up to the diagnosis, I was having 5 to 8 sinus infections per year, shortness of breath, fatigue, etc. Could this be related?

Answer:

No one ever knows how long a cancer has been present in someone’s body; there is no way of telling and everyone’s estimate is just a guess. Having any lymphoma can increase your risk for all types of infection; the cancer may not have been visible at that point, but it’s possible that in it’s very early stage a cancer could cause increased infection. It is just as likely, however, that the infections were unrelated to the Hodgkins. These are questions that science just can’t answer very well.

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Response by:

Joanna M Brell, MD Joanna M Brell, MD
Formerly, Assistant Professor of Medicine
School of Medicine
Case Western Reserve University