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Blood cancer information Types of blood cancer Childhood blood cancers Childhood
lymphoma


CHILDHOOD LYMPHOMA




WHAT IS CHILDHOOD LYMPHOMA?

Lymphoma is the general term for cancers that develop in the lymphatic system.
The lymphatic system is made up of a vast network of vessels, similar to blood
vessels that branch out into all the tissues of the body. These vessels contain
lymph, a colourless watery fluid that carries lymphocytes which are specialised
white blood cells that fight infection.

There are two types of lymphocytes: B-lymphocytes and T-lymphocytes (also called
B-cells and T-cells). These cells protect us by making antibodies and destroying
harmful micro-organisms such as bacteria and viruses.

Lymphoma originates in developing B lymphocytes and T-lymphocytes, which have
undergone a malignant change. This means that they multiply without any proper
order forming tumours, which are collections of cancer cells.

Over time, malignant lymphocytes (called lymphoma cells) crowd out normal
lymphocytes and eventually the immune system becomes weakened and can no longer
function properly.

There are 43 different sub-types of lymphoma currently recognised by the World
Health Organization’s classification system for lymphoma. Five of these
sub-types belong to a group of diseases called Hodgkin lymphoma.  Hodgkin
lymphoma is distinguished from all other types of lymphoma because of the
presence of a special kind of cancer cell called a Reed-Sternberg cell, which
can be seen when examining the tumour cells under a microscope.

All other sub-types are commonly grouped together and called non-Hodgkin
lymphoma (or B and T cell lymphomas). In children, lymphoma is one of the most
common types of cancer seen, but few children overall are ever diagnosed with
these diseases. Lymphomas in children tend to grow quickly but generaslly
respond very well to treatment.

Significant advances are continually being made in the way we manage lymphomas.
This means that with treatment, many children can now be cured. Many others who
are treated remain disease-free and well for a long time.


CHILDHOOD LYMPHOMA: THE BASICS

HOW COMMON IS CHILDHOOD LYMPHOMA?

In Australia, around 30 children (0-14 years) are diagnosed with Hodgkin
lymphoma and around 40 children (0-14 years) are diagnosed with non-Hodgkin
lymphoma each year.

WHO GETS CHILDHOOD LYMPHOMA?

Hodgkin lymphoma can occur at any age but it is most common in adolescents and
young adults. Hodgkin lymphoma is rarely seen in children less than five years
old, and it occurs more frequently in males than in females.

Similarly to Hodgkin lymphoma, non-Hodgkin occurs more frequently in males.
Non-Hodgkin lymphomas can occur at any age but they are more common in adults
over the age of 50, who account for more than 70 per cent of all cases.

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF CHILDHOOD LYMPHOMA?

In most cases the causes of childhood lymphoma remain unknown. We do know that
it is not contagious and like many cancers, damage to special proteins which
normally control the growth and division of cells may play a role in its
development. Research is going on all the time into possible causes of this
damage and it is thought the alterations in the immune system may play a role in
some cases.

Children with a weakened immune system (immunosuppressed) either by a viral
infection or as a result of drugs that affect the function of the immune system
have an increased chance of developing lymphoma. Infection with Epstein-Barr
virus (EBV), the virus that causes glandular fever, may be involved,
particularly in people who are immunosuppressed.

In most cases, people who are diagnosed with lymphoma have no family history of
the disease. However, there have been some cases where a brother or sister also
develops Hodgkin lymphoma, suggesting a rare family genetic link to the disease.
As this is very rare, it is not recommended that families undergo testing for
the disease.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF CHILDHOOD LYMPHOMA?

Some children do not have any symptoms when they are first diagnosed with
lymphoma. In these cases the disease may be picked up by accident, for example
during a routine chest x-ray for a different complaint. The most common symptom
of lymphoma is a firm, usually painless swelling of a lymph node (swollen
glands), usually in the neck, under the arms or in the groin.

It is important to remember that most people who go to their doctor with
enlarged lymph nodes do not have lymphoma. Swollen glands often result from an
infection, for example a sore throat. In this case the glands in the neck are
usually swollen and painful.

Other symptoms may include:

 * recurrent fevers
 * excessive sweating at night
 * unintentional weight loss
 * persistent fatigue and lack of energy
 * generalised itching or a rash
 * chronic cough/breathlessness (due to swollen lymph gland in chest)
 * bowel changes/blockage (due to swollen glands in abdomen).

These symptoms are also seen in other illnesses such as viral infections. So,
most people with these complaints do not have lymphoma. It is important to see
your child’s doctor if your child has any symptoms that do not go away so that
they can be examined and treated properly.


MORE INFORMATION ABOUT CHILDHOOD LYMPHOMA

Childhood lymphoma diagnosis Childhood lymphoma treatment



 



Last updated on January 18th, 2023

Developed by the Leukaemia Foundation in consultation with people living with a
blood cancer, Leukaemia Foundation support staff, haematology nursing staff
and/or Australian clinical haematologists. This content is provided for
information purposes only and we urge you to always seek advice from a
registered health care professional for diagnosis, treatment and answers to your
medical questions, including the suitability of a particular therapy, service,
product or treatment in your circumstances. The Leukaemia Foundation shall not
bear any liability for any person relying on the materials contained on this
website.

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BLOOD CANCER A – Z

 * Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL)
 * Acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
 * Acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APML)
 * Adult T-cell lymphoma (ATLL)
 * Anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL)
 * Amyloidosis
 * Aplastic anaemia (AA)
 * Biphenotypic leukaemia
 * Burkitt’s lymphoma
 * Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL)
 * Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML)
 * CNS lymphoma
 * Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL)
 * Double hit lymphoma (DHL)
 * Essential Thrombocythaemia (ET)
 * Follicular lymphoma (FL)
 * Hairy cell leukaemia (HCL)
 * Hodgkin lymphoma (HL)
 * Leukaemia / Leukemia
 * Lymphoblastic lymphoma (LL)
 * Lymphoma
 * MALT lymphoma
 * Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL)
 * Marginal zone lymphoma (MZL)
 * Monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance (MGUS)
 * Myelodysplastic neoplasms (MDS)
 * Myelofibrosis (MF)
 * Myeloma
 * Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN)
 * Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL)
 * Peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL)
 * Polycythaemia (Rubra) vera (PRV)
 * Skin lymphomas
 * Small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL)
 * Solitary plasmacytoma
 * Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinaemia (WM)

CURING AND CONQUERING
BLOOD CANCER



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