Hodgkin lymphoma treatment planning
Once you’ve been diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma your healthcare team will start planning your treatment. You might have a few weeks in between your diagnosis and starting treatment.
Your treatment plan
Your doctor will talk to you about your treatment options and make a treatment plan with you. The treatment that’s right for you will depend on:
- the stage of Hodgkin lymphoma
- your general health and fitness
- your wishes
- whether you are having Hodgkin lymphoma treatment for the first time or have had treatment before
- what treatments are available, how well they work and any risks or side effects.
Your hospital team
Your treatment and care will come from a team of doctors, nurses and other hospital professionals that specialise in blood cancer. This is called a multi-disciplinary team (MDT).
Your MDT will meet regularly to discuss your treatment plan and how your treatment is going. Your doctor or nurse will update you on what’s been discussed after the MDT meetings.
Your main contacts in the MDT are likely to be:
- Your hospital doctor or consultant – this is usually a specialist in conditions affecting the blood, called a haematologist
- Your clinical nurse specialist – you should be given the details of clinical nurse specialist involved in your care. They are a key point of contact who you can go to with any worries or questions.
If you’re having a stem cell transplant or want to take part in a clinical trial, you might also be seen at a different hospital that specialises in this treatment.
We have more information about blood cancer treatment planning, covering things like MDTs and making decisions about your treatment.
"I put my trust in my medical team because I knew they were using their expertise to plan my treatment and monitor how it was going. I found that really reassuring."
Ritesh, diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in 2022.
Questions to ask
Sometimes it can be hard to think of questions during an appointment with your hospital team. Here are some suggestions:
- What treatment do you recommend and why
- What will it involve and how long will it take?
- What is the aim of the treatment?
- What side effects should I expect from this treatment?
- Is the treatment likely to affect my fertility?
- Do I need any more tests, and what are they for?
- Who do I contact if I think of more questions later?
Key things to know about treatment
Here are a few key things to remember:
- You should be given a named key contact, usually a clinical nurse specialist (CNS), and a phone number or email in case you have any questions or worries. If you don’t know yours, ask your hospital team.
- Your doctor and the rest of your hospital team are there to answer your questions. Don't be afraid to ask them whatever you want to know. It's their job to make sure you understand what's happening.
- You can contact our Support Service for help preparing for appointments or talking to your hospital team – this is something we talk to people about a lot.
Preserving your fertility
Treatment for Hodgkin lymphoma can sometimes affect your fertility. If you think you might want children in the future, speak to your hospital team as soon as possible after your diagnosis. They can let you know if your treatment is likely to affect your fertility and talk to you about fertility preservation.
Options to preserve fertility include:
- Freezing eggs or embryos
- Freezing sperm
- Freezing ovarian tissue
- Protecting your ovaries during treatment.
Sometimes having fertility preservation means delaying treatment for a few days or weeks. Your doctor will let you know if it’s safe to delay your treatment.
Read more about fertility preservation.
Blood cancer and fertility
Blood cancer treatment can have an impact on fertility and sometimes causes early menopause. Read more about how treatment can affect fertility, and the help that's available.