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Hodgkin's Disease Research Paper

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Risk Factors Scientists have found a number of risk factors that may influence the probability of someone getting Hodgkin’s disease, but it is still not clear how these factors increase the risk (4). For example, some researchers think that infections with the Epstein-Barr virus may sometimes cause damage to the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in the B lymphocytes, which leads to the creation of Reed-Sternberg cells (4). DNA is the set of instructions sent to the genes that dictates cell functions. Some genes are responsible for controlling when cells grow, divide, and die (4). Genes that assist the cells ability to grow, divide, and stay alive are known as oncogenes (4). Genes that slow down cell division or cause cells to die at the proper …show more content…

The risk is also much higher for an identical twin of someone currently experiencing Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (5). However, a family link is still uncommon--many patients living with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma do not have a family history of it (5). It is still uncertain as to why family relation might increase risk of obtaining this disease (5). It is speculated that family members tend to have similar childhood exposures to certain infections, such as the Epstein-Barr virus, because they share inherited gene changes that make them more likely to get Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, or some combination of these factors …show more content…

The lump does not typically hurt, but the area may become tender after consuming alcohol (6). The lump could grow larger over time and new lumps may appear within the same vicinity, or even different parts of the body (6). Hodgkin’s Lymphoma is not the only cause of lymph node swelling. Most enlarged lymph nodes are caused by an infection, these are referred to as reactive or hyperplastic nodes (6). This type of swelling is typically painful to touch and will return to normal size within a few weeks after the infection is gone

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