Radiation therapy or radiotherapy is the use of high-energy x-rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation for lymphoma usually comes from a machine outside the body (external-beam radiation therapy). Radiation therapy given to the neck, chest, and/or lymph nodes under the arms is called radiation therapy to a mantle field. Radiation therapy given to the mantle field and to the lymph nodes in the upper abdomen, the spleen, and the lymph nodes in the pelvis is called total nodal irradiation. Radiation therapy may be used alone or in addition to chemotherapy. Radiation is most often used in early stage, localized disease.

Radiation may significantly impair growth of bones and soft tissue so it's use in lymphoma treatment should be thought out accordingly. Unfortunately female patients who received radiation therapy between the ages of 10 and 16 mighty have an increased risk of breast cancer later in life.

To determine when radiation therapy may be used (dependent on factors such as lymphoma stage and bulkiness) see the NCI data sheets listed under the Childhood Lymphoma Resources Page.

 

Sponsored Links

 

Resources

Detailed information on Radiotherapy / Radiation Therapy

Childhood Radiation Resources

Hodgkin (sic) Disease in Children: Radiation Therapy - ACS
Childhood Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Radiation Therapy - ACS
NCI: Radiotherapy and MedlinePlus: Radiotherapy
Guide: Radiation Therapy and You - NCI

Supportive Care

Information on Hair Loss & Head Coverings
Locks of Love - an organization providing real hair coverings for children with cancer

Radiotherapy

See the childhood lymphoma radiation page for more information

Clinical Trials

See the new page on Clinical Trials

 

Related Articles

For more information on Childhood Hodgkin's Disease, please see the following pages:

Childhood Hodgkin's Disease: Treatment
Childhood Hodgkin's Disease: Chemotherapy
Childhood Lymphoma: Resources
Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Information Page
Childhood Hodgkin's Disease: Diagnosis
Childhood Hodgkin's Disease: Introduction

For more information on Childhood Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma:

Childhood Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma: Treatment
Childhood Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma: Chemotherapy
Childhood Lymphoma: Resources
Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Information Page
Childhood Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma: Diagnosis
Childhood Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma: Introduction

Other pages you may want to visit:

The Lymphoma Information Network
Adult Hodgkin's Disease Information Pages

 

Books

Books on Lymphoma Treatment including radiotherapy