Hodgkin's disease: multidisciplinary contributions to the conquest of a neoplasm. Erskine memorial lecture, 1976

Abstract

In the 150 years since the first description of Hodgkin's disease, treatment methods have become increasingly sophisticated and effective. We now know that relapses are concentrated within the first five years after treatment. Accordingly, anyone who survives the first five years has a 95% chance of cure. Modern techniques in diagnosis, staging, and combined chemotherapy and irradiation have brought us within sight of total therapeutic conquest of this once inexorably fatal malady.