Steroids for Hodgkin's lymphoma

Men and women discussing Hodgkin's lymphoma

This page tells you about steroid treatment for Hodgkin's lymphoma. There is information about

A quick guide to what's on this page
What steroids are
Why you need steroids
Possible side effects

Steroids for Hodgkin’s lymphoma

Steroids are substances made naturally in the body. They can also be made artificially and used as drugs. In Hodgkin's lymphoma, you may have steroids as part of your chemotherapy treatment. This is because some treatments are more successful when steroids are given along with the chemotherapy drugs.

Side effects

Because you will not be taking the steroids for very long without a break, you are not likely to have bad side effects from them. But there are quite a few side effects you may notice, including

An increased appetite
Having more energy
Feeling agitated
Difficulty sleeping
Indigestion

When you have been taking steroids for some time you may notice some swelling in your hands, feet or eyelids. You may also put on weight.

Your doctor will be looking out for other side effects of your steroids. These are raised blood pressure, increased risk of infections, and sugar in the urine. They are unlikely to happen unless you have been taking steroids for some time. They will go away when you stop taking the steroids.

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Steroids are substances made naturally in the body. They can also be made artificially and used as drugs. Doctors give steroids for many different reasons. And for many different illnesses and conditions. There is information about treating cancer with steroids in the cancer treatments section of CancerHelp UK.

In Hodgkin's lymphoma, you may have steroids as part of your chemotherapy treatment. Some of the treatments are more successful when steroids are given along with the chemotherapy drugs.

Steroids can be tablets or injections. If you are having them as part of your treatment, you will have tablets to take at home. These are usually called prednisolone.

You may also have steroid injections at the same time as your chemotherapy injections. This is to help control chemotherapy sickness. The steroid drug doctors prescribe for this is usually dexamethasone.

When you have steroids as part of your chemotherapy, you only take them for a few days or a week at a time. But you will have to take them each time you have a chemotherapy treatment. So you will be taking them now and again for quite a while.

You will not be taking the steroids for very long without a break and so you are not likely to have bad side effects from them. But there are quite a few side effects you may notice, including

An increase in your appetite
Having more energy
Feeling agitated
Difficulty sleeping
Indigestion

Steroids can cause water retention. When you have been taking steroids for some time the extra fluid in your body may cause some swelling in your hands, feet or eyelids. You may also put on weight.

Your doctor will be looking out for other side effects of your steroids. These include

Raised blood pressure
Increased risk of picking up infections
Sugar in the urine and higher than normal sugar levels in the blood

Your doctor may ask you to test your urine for sugar at home. This involves dipping a plastic stick into a fresh urine sample and seeing if it changes colour. Or your doctor may want you to bring samples to the hospital to be tested.

These side effects are unlikely to happen unless you have been taking steroids for some time. And they are temporary. They will go away when you stop taking the steroids.

Because your resistance to infection is lowered while you are taking steroids, it is best to try to avoid people with infections, including colds and flu. This is also sensible while you are having chemotherapy, but not always practical. It is important to also avoid anyone with any other known infectious diseases such as chickenpox.

It is important for any doctor treating you for any reason to know you are taking steroids. So, in case of emergencies you will be given a card to carry to say you are taking steroids. Your doctor will ask you to carry the card with you at all times.