Lymphoma is a type of cancer that begins in the lymphatic system, which is a part of the immune system. According to the American Cancer Society, there are two kinds of lymphomas that can occur in childhood: Hodgkins disease and Non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Non-Hodgkins lymphoma occurs in younger children while Hodgkins disease is common in teenagers and older children. Both types of lymphoma can be treated with chemotherapy, radiation therapy or other therapies.
Chemotherapy
Both Hodgkins disease and Non-Hodgkins lymphoma can be treated by chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is the use of drugs that kills cancerous cells and can be given by mouth or through a vein. Usually a combination of chemotherapy drugs is given to treat the lymphoma; however, the medications used may not be the same for both diseases. Chemotherapy can harm normal cells as well as the cancer cells; this causes of the side effects of the therapy. Side effects can include mouth sores, hair loss, loss of appetite, nausea and increased risk of infection; these side effects cease after discontinuation of the chemotherapy. The physician will closely follow the child's progress and response to medications and may adjust the medication as needed.
Radiation Therapy
Before the development of effective chemotherapy regimens for lymphoma, radiation therapy was used more commonly. Radiation is the use of intense energy rays to kill cancer cells. Typically, radiation therapy can be used to treat a mass of cancerous cells in a specific area of the body. The radiation treatments themselves do not take very long and are administered five days a week for several weeks. The short-term side effects can cause skin changes, fatigue and nausea. However, in children, the long-term side effects can be more lasting, such as damage to growing bones or damage to lungs, heart or brain, as noted by the American Cancer Society. Radiation therapy can be given along with a chemotherapy regimen in the treatment of lymphoma.
Bone Marrow Transplant
Bone marrow transplants are when the doctors use high-dose chemotherapy and radiation to kill the cancerous bone marrow and the replace it with healthy cells from a donor. This treatment is not used until chemotherapy and radiation therapy has failed or if the lymphoma recurs because it is such a complex treatment. During the period before the donor cells have began to grow, the child is at high risk for infection. Other side effects may include infertility, early menopause, cataracts and damage to the bone, lungs and thyroid, as mentioned on the American Cancer Society website.
Monoclonal Antibodies
Another treatment for lymphoma is the use of monoclonal antibodies. According to the American Cancer Society, these are man-made antibodies that can be created to attack specific targets on cancer cells. These are currently being used in adults but are being studied for use in children as well. As noted on the Mayo Clinic website, side effects include allergic reactions, flu-like symptoms and diarrhea.
References
- Childrens Cancer Research Fund: Understanding Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center: Childhood Lymphoma
- American Cancer Society: Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma in Children
- American Cancer Society: How Is Hodgkin Disease Treated?
- Mayo Clinic: Monoclonal antibody drugs for cancer treatment: How they work
