Lymphomas are diseases in which cancerous cells form in the system that makes lymph (fluid that contains white blood cells that protect the body against infection).

The outlook for patients with lymphoma depends on the type of tumor and whether the tumor has spread outside the lymph nodes (small glands that circulate lymph around the body).

Types of lymphomas:

• Hodgkin lymphomas develop when abnormal B cells (an immune system cell) accumulate in the immune system.
• Non-Hodgkin lymphomas, which are more common than Hodgkin lymphomas, occur when the body produces too many white blood cells called lymphocytes.

Symptoms of Pediatric Lymphomas

Symptoms vary depending on the type of cancer. Many of the symptoms of childhood cancers can also be symptoms of other diseases. Be sure to consult your doctor if your child has symptoms that seem unusual for him or her.

Symptoms of lymphoma may include:

• Breathing problems
• Fever
• Night sweats
• Shortness of breath
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Weight loss
• Wheezing

Stages

Hodgkin lymphoma

• Stage I: Cancer is confined to lymph nodes in one group, or it is found outside the lymph nodes but in only one organ.
• Stage II: The cancer is in two or more different lymph node groups, or it is in one organ as well as nearby lymph nodes. But it is still limited to either the area above or the area below the diaphragm.
• Stage III: The cancer is found in lymph nodes both above and below the diaphragm. The cancer may also be in one organ or tissue near the lymph nodes, or in the spleen.
• Stage IV: Cancer is found in several parts of one or more organs or tissues such as the bones, the liver, or the lungs.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma

In addition to being divided into four stages, non-Hodgkin lymphoma is referred to as low stage (it has not spread outside the area where it began) or high stage (it has spread beyond its original location). The specific stages are:

• Stage I: Cancer is found in one group of lymph nodes (such as in the neck or under the arm), or it is not found in lymph nodes but in one organ or area, such as the liver or the lung.
• Stage II: Cancer is found in two different groups of lymph nodes or in one group of lymph nodes and one organ outside the lymph nodes.
• Stage III: Cancer is found in lymph nodes both below and above the diaphragm (the muscle separating the chest from the abdomen). The cancer may also be in organs nearby.
• Stage IV: Cancer is found in the brain, bone marrow, or cerebrospinal fluid, or it is found in several different organs or areas of the body.

Treatment Options

Surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy are the standard treatments for many childhood cancers. Your child may receive one or more treatments depending on the stage of the cancer, your child’s general health, and other factors.

Chemotherapy with stem cell transplant may be used to treat some types of lymphomas.

Learn more about pediatric cancer:

• Chemotherapy for Pediatric Cancer
• Radiation Therapy for Pediatric Cancer
• Pediatric Cancer Risk Factors
• Late Effects of Pediatric Cancer Treatment