Victoria Duval’s latest challenge is not on the tennis court, but her new diagnosis of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Born in the US to Haitian parents, both medical doctors.; Duval is one of the rising stars of tennis. She became a sensation last year during the US open, beating 2011 champion Samantha Stosur to reach the second round.
Last week, after her loss in the second round at Wimbledon 2014, she announced that she will “step away from tennis competition for a short period after being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma.”
Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, first described by Thomas Hodgkin, thus bear his name, is a cancer of the lymphatic system, which is a component of our immune system. About 8000 new cases of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma occur each year in the US, which represents less than 1% of all cancers. Most cases occur between the ages of 15 to 35 years, with another small peak among those older than 50 years old.
Patients with Hodgkin lymphoma usually present with painless enlargement of lymph nodes in the neck and armpit, and
While this is sad news for victoria Duval and tennis fans, there is a silver lining: Hodgkin’s Lymphoma has a very good prognosis, meaning with appropriate treatment, usually chemotherapy, it has a high rate of complete and durable remission. In fact, the treatment of
We wish Victoria Duval a quick and successful recovery, and we are yearning for her return to the tennis court to continue her amazing journey as one of the US tennis emerging star. Stay Strong Vicky!!!
Marc
Ref:
Armitage, James O.
Fishman/Hoffman, Medicine, fifth edition
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