A diagnosis of lymphoma in children can be a nightmare for the parents and the child. Most parents instantly think that their child has been given a death sentence – and unfortunately, in many cases, this is a fact. In some cases, however, there is hope.
What is Lymphoma in Children?
Lymphoma is essentially cancer of the lymphatic tissues in the body. This includes the lymph nodes. Additionally, lymphoma can also affect the tonsils and adenoids, the thymus, the spleen, and even the bone marrow. Lymphoma does not automatically mean that your child is going to die. If caught in the early stages, the cancer is treatable. This is why it is so important for your child to have regular checkups, and why it is also important that you not assume that swollen glands indicate something minor. Always get swollen glands checked out by a physician as soon as possible.
Hodgkins or Non-Hodgkins?
Lymphoma can be one of two types of cancer – hodgkins or non-hodgkins. Hodgkins is known as Hodgkins Disease and non-hodgkins is known as non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, or NHL. When Hodgkins Disease is diagnosed, this means that the malignant cells are Reed-Sternberg Cells.
Typically this type of cancer presents with swollen glands above the collarbone, in the groin area, or under the arms. Of the 1700 cases that are reported annually, five hundred of those cases are non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Often, NHL is confused with leukemia in children at first.
Your Child’s Risks
Approximately 1700 kids under the age of twenty are diagnosed with lymphoma annually. White males have the highest risk. Children who have inherited immune diseases are also at high risk.
These are really the only risks associated with lymphoma in children. It is important for parents to realize that they have no real control over whether their child will or will not develop either type of lymphoma – it’s just plain bad luck. It isn’t even inherited.
Treatment for either type of lymphoma is dependent on the stage of the cancer, among other things. There are four stages of lymphoma, with stage four being the worst. Treatment may include chemotherapy, radiation, and in some cases, surgery.
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