Lymphoma

Hodgkin lymphoma is a cancer that starts in the lymph system and causes swelling of affected lymph nodes. It may spread to the other body organs like spleen, liver, bone marrow or lungs.

Symptoms

• Swollen lymph nodes in the neck, chest, armpit or groin
• Extreme fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• Fever
• Night sweats
• Itchy skin

Treatment

• Chemotherapy
  Combination of chemotherapy is used
• Radiation therapy
  Radiation is being used less for treating children with Hodgkin lymphoma.
• >Targeted therapy
  uses medicines or other treatments that target and attack specific cancer cells without harming normal cells.

Survival:

Five-year survival rates for Hodgkin lymphoma are very good. More than 90 percent for children can be cured.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is the group name for all types of lymphomas except lymphoma. They are cancers that arise in the body’s lymphatic system. NHLs can arise in many sites including the lymph nodes, thymus gland, spleen and abdominal organs such as the bowel.

Symptoms

• Swollen lymph nodes in the neck, chest, armpit or groin
• Coughing and breathlessness in case of mediastinal mass
• Unexplained weight loss
• Night sweats
• A painless lump
• Unexplained fever

Treatment

Combination chemotherapy is most often used to treat non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Radiation therapy is rarely needed.

Survival:

About 80 percent of patients treated for non-Hodgkin lymphoma remain disease-free. It increases to more than 90 percent for children with early, localized NHL.