### instruction:
If you are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description.

### input:
Should someone go ahead and start the first session of chemotherapy to treat hodgkins lymphoma if one has caught a cold?My brother-in-law is 63 years old and he is supposed to start his chemotherapy this coming Tuesday. I was informed yesterday that he has been diagnosed with Hodgkins disease 10 days ago. We are all shocked. I do not know his weight. He is tall. I do not know his medical history. I live in Europe and he lives in South Africa. It is winter out there and he has caught a cold. Should he postpone or go ahead with the chemotherapy given that he has caught a cold?I am sorry this is all I know at the moment. I do not know what stage of the disease he is in nor if the lymphoma has spread from his lymph nodes to and organs or to his blood system. I also do not know what type of Hodgkins Disease he has. I know there are at least 4 or 5 different types. I would be most grateful if you couls advise whether the treatment should be postponed until after he has fully recovered from the cold. Many thanks in advice for your reply.

### output:

Hi, Thanks for writing in. It is suggested that he gets a complete blood count done, and then it will be known if his cold infection is of a severe grade. If there is severe infection then it will be wise to provide treatment and then allow him to recover over a week or 10 days before initiating chemotherapy. A week of wait is acceptable, and the chemotherapy might be planned such that he is physically fit at the time of commencement of treatment. Please note that every patient will feel weak after chemotherapy and his health will go down. He requires good care and support. Please do not worry.