Monthly Newsletter- August 15, 2022
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To our readers- We are combining the July and August newsletters into one super-packed treasure of great information and inspiring stories. Hope you are all well and enjoying summer! Take care- Cathy and Erin
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This is SO cool!
Three dimensional images of Hodgkin Lymphoma and other cancers from the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Check it out!
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Dorothy Mabel Reed- our Hodgkin Heroine
Inspired by Stan Barta's presentation on Thomas Hodgkin, we decided to check out another Hodgkin lymphoma hero- Dorothy Reed Mendenhall. Ever hear of the Reed-Sternberg cell? It is the definitive marker in making a diagnosis of Hodgkin's. It's named after Dorothy!
This gutsy lady has a fascinating history. Among other things, she was one of the first women to graduate from John Hopkins School of Medicine. Click the button below to read about Dorothy Reed on Wikipedia.
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Did you know....
That Catharanthus roseus, the Madagascar rosy periwinkle, has naturally occurring chemical compounds- namely vincristine and vinblastine, that are part of some chemotherapy protocols for Hodgkin Lymphoma.
The following article was published by the John Innes Centre in the UK in 2018. Fascinating read. Enjoy!
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Cardiovascular Disease, Not Cancer, Top Cause Of Death Among Hodgkin Lymphoma Survivors
As reported in Healio News, July 2022
Sobering news that comes from a study of 15,889 children and adults (aged younger than 35 years) diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma between 1983 and 2015.
What's the bottom line? Hodgkin's survivors have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease than those in the general population. And, as quoted in the Healio article,
"Although the risk for classic Hodgkin lymphoma-associated mortality decreased sharply in recent decades, the risk for cardiovascular disease-associated mortality decreased slowly or remained unchanged for certain patients".
The Healio article is essentially a summation of the entire research article that appeared in Cancer. We have included links to both articles.
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Great resource for survivors with cardiovascular disease-
HeartValveSurgery.com
While cardiovascular disease is one of the more serious late effects for Hodgkin's survivors, there ARE treatments. Many survivors benefit from adopting better diet and exercise routines. Some have found cardiac drugs to be sufficient to keep symptoms at bay. Others have had to turn to surgical procedures, especially for valvular problems.
Open-heart surgery used to be the standard route, but there are now MANY other options that are less invasive. This is particularly important for Hodgkin lymphoma survivors because their earlier treatment (radiation and chemotherapy) may make open-heart surgery difficult.
HeartValveSurgery.com is a terrific resource for those with cardiovascular disease involving the heart valves (aortic, mitral, tricuspid, and pulmonary). There is a great deal of information here. There are also opportunities to talk directly with another heart valve patient.
Don't forget to check out the Hodgkin's International website for more on cardiovascular disease and late effects.
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Mental Health Disorders Are More Common In Patients With Hodgkin Lymphoma And May Negatively Impact Overall Survival
Published in Cancer, August 2, 2022
This is tough news, but probably not surprising to most. We have been talking about emotional health in long-term survivors for a while now. Hodgkin's International held a Zoom gathering on this subject, and we have recently added more about emotional health on our website. (See section on Late Effects and Rachel Gingold's blog, also included below).
The study described in this abstract included Hodgkin's survivors who were diagnosed between 1997 and 2014. It turns out that having a stem cell transplant was a key factor in increased risk of mental health disorders.
You can read the full research article by going to the Wiley Library (online).
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Four Steps to Staying Informed Without Getting Anxious
By Rachel Gingold
GREAT blog by Rachel Gingold, who is a Hodgkin's survivor and our wonderful webmaster at Hodgkin's International. Thanks Rachel- for this and all you do for us!
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Can You Fix Your Foggy Brain After Cancer Treatment?
In Coping Magazine
Did you know that there is actually a name for the "foggy brain" that many of us suffer with post-cancer treatment? It's called "cancer-related cognitive impairment," or CRCI for short. This article, appearing in Coping Magazine, provides a good overview of this very real problem for survivors, and explains why chemotherapy alone is not to blame!
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Financial Hardship in Cancer Care....
Published in JAMA Network, July 25 2022
This research article makes the case for not just identifying the causes of financial toxicity in cancer care, but for for creating solutions. The authors note the prevalence of financial hardship (48-68% in the study's population of 400) and the additional burden for those who are marginalized due to age, race, geographical location, etc.
Research articles are often tough to read, but his one is worth slogging through. Financial hardship in cancer care ultimately effects ALL of us.
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Ten Lessons I Learned From Surviving Three Cancers
By Heather Hall, in Coping Magazine, July 20 2022
Having battled osteosarcoma, melanoma, and breast cancer, Heather Hall learned some tough lessons. Her amazing ability to see the "bright side" after so many challenges is both inspiring and valuable. Many long-term survivors will see themselves in her story.
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