Childhood Lymphoma

Lymphoma is a broad term encompassing a variety of cancers of the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system helps filter out bacteria and is important in fighting disease. Every so often, the lymph vessels widen into lymph nodes. Most of us have felt these under our arms or neck (like when sick with mono or an infection).

In lymphoma, some of the cells in the lymph system (white blood cells named lymphocytes) multiply uncontrollably from a single cell (called a malignancy or cancer). Different lymphomas are broken out by the type of cell that multiplies and how the cancer presents itself.

The two main groups of lymphoma are Hodgkin's lymphoma (or Hodgkin's Disease) (characterized by the growth of Reed-Sternberg cells in the cancer) and the Non-Hodgkin's Lymphomas .

Cancer strikes one of every 330 children born in the US before the age of 19. Lymphoma makes up 15% of those childhood cancers with 55% diagnosed as Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma and 45% diagnosed as Hodgkin's Lymphoma (Disease). Both types are very rare in children aged under 3. Boys are affected slightly more often than girls.

Where do I Start?

Finding out a child has lymphoma is a devastating experience. The oncologist and others on your "medical team" (do not discount the wisdom of your nurse!) will explain many things to you and (hopefully) give you information on the condition and treatment. Often times, though, people seek additional information. Since you are here, I assume you, like I, turned to the computer to find information via the Internet. Alas, medical information is available, but finding it can be very frustrating. This site tries to present the best of information from literature and the Internet.