Pediatric Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
Children and adolescents living with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma benefit from a full evaluation before receiving treatment.
Background
Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Overview
Cancer develops when cells in the body grow out of control. Any cells in your body can become cancer and spread to other areas of the body. Childhood non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is a particular type of cancer that forms in the lymph system. The lymph system is part of the body’s immune system. The immune system plays an important role in protecting the body from foreign substances, infection, and diseases. The lymphatic system consists of a fluid (lymph), vessels that transport the lymph, and organs that contain lymphoid tissue. The cancerous cell in
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30 percent of the cases are Lymphoblastic non-Hodgkin lymphoma and they usually involves the T-cells, and typically presents with a mass in the chest, swollen lymph node, with or without bone marrow and central nervous system involvement. Burkitt's and non-Burkitt's lymphoma are fast-growing lymphomas in which the cells are undifferentiated and diffuse. This has also been referred to as small noncleaved cells. Burkitt's and non-Burkitt's lymphoma accounts for about 40 percent of the cases. They are usually characterized by a large abdominal tumor and may have bone marrow and central nervous system involvement. Large cell or diffuse histiocytic non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Large cell or diffuse histiocytic non-Hodgkin involves the B-cells or T-cells and accounts for about 25 percent of the cases. Children with this type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma usually have lymphatic system involvement, as well as a non-lymph structure involvement. Anaplastic large cell lymphoma is a type of large cell lymphoma in children. Large cell lymphomas usually do not grow as quickly as other lymphomas in
Causes of Hodgkin’s lymphoma are not known but it is most common in young people age 15 to 35 and in older patents of 50 to 70 years old.
Hodgkin 's Lymphoma occurs when following a mutation in the lymphocyte DNA. The mutation occurs after birth, meaning that Hodgkin’s disease is not hereditary. The mutated DNA can lead to the uncontrolled growth of cancerous lymphocytes if untreated. The cancerous lymphocytes produce tumor masses in the lymph
Pediatric oncology has been so very rewarding in many ways, but also so very cruel in a few ways. The good days are great, but the sad days are heartbreaking. But beyond the death and the suffering, there is a whole other layer of
Ewing sarcoma is an abnormal growth of cells that is cancerous (malignant). It grows in bones or tissues near bones. It is usually found in longer bones of the arms or legs. The thigh bone (femur) is the bone most often affected, followed by the bones of the pelvis, lower leg, upper arm (humerus), and chest.
The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies Hodgkin’s lymphoma into two different groups: nodular lymphocyte predominant (NLPHL) and classical HL (cHL). NLPHL develops slowly, is found predominantly in males, and accounts for about 5% of all HL cases. It is characterized by L&H cells and a different antigenic profile (Roddle, Peggs, 2009, p. 208). In contrast, cHL, the most common subtype, comprises nearly 80% of diagnosed cases. Classical HL is divided into four subtypes. “The diagnosis is dependent on the pathological finding of H...
Diagnosing these cancers is very tricky because they tend to have a lot of the same symptoms, not only to themselves but also to other diseases. Lymphoma is usually misdiagnosed as IBS and as a conciquece of such with the treatment for IBS usually causes the cancer to further spread and develop it's self. (Science Weekly, 2012) Just like in human cancers when finding a lump under the skin on any part of the body it is important to go the the vet and get them checked out. The most comon way of diagnosing cancers is by a biopsy, which is taking a part of flesh from the suspected affected area and testing it for any cancerous cells. Most cancers are misdiagnosed or go undiagnosed completely because their symptoms often resemble other diseases which are easier treated, and more common.
In most cases, Castleman’s disease is characterized by a single, solid growth within lymphatic tissue in the chest, stomach, or neck. The growths may also occur in other lymphatic tissue throughout the body. Castelman’s Disease is not cancer, but, a lymphoproliferative disorder. It is a condition resembling lymphoma but without recognizable malignant cells. It shows as isolated masses of lymphoid tissue and lymph node hyperplasia, usually in the abdominal or mediastinal area. There are two types of the disorder, the first one is the hyaline vascular Unicentric Castleman’s disease type that is a localized form affecting only a single gland (lymph node) in the lymphatic system (asymptomatic) or may
Elphee, E. E. (2008). Understanding the Concept of Uncertainty in Patients With Indolent Lymphoma. Oncology Nursing Forum, 35(3), 449-454.
Non-small-cell lung cancer is more common than small-cell lung cancer. It makes up about 80 percent of all diagnosed lung cancers. It is actually four different kinds of lung cancers that grow and respond to treatment in about the same way. These four types of non-small-cell lung cancer are termed squamous cell, adencarcinoma, large cell, and mixed cell. Two other related cancers that are also included in the non-small-cell lung cancers group are carcinoid and mesothelioma. Non-small-cell lung cancer grows more slowly than small-cell lung cancer. Non-small-cell lung cancer tends to grow first in the area where it started then invades the surrounding lung tissue and ribs. It eventually spreads to other areas of the body, mainly bones, brain, and liver.
Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma is the classification of any type of malignant lymphoma other than Hodgkin’s Disease, including histiocytic lymphoma and lymphocytic lymphomas.
Steen, Grant R. and Joseph Mirro. Childhood Cancer: A Handbook From St.Jude Children's Research Hospital . Cambridge, MA: Perseus Publisher, 2000.
Kids are meant to be happy, play outside, go to school, and have fun. They aren’t meant to sit in hospitals, losing weight by the pound, carrying around IV poles filled with poison. It’s ridiculous and immature that we don’t have a cure for childhood cancer. The only “treatment” that we have is chemotherapy- a chemical that seems to help fight off cancer. Chemo doesn’t just fight off cancer cells though- it fights off healthy cells in your blood, mouth, digestive system, and hair follicles. The most frustrating thing about childhood cancer is that only 4% of federal funding is exclusively dedicated to childhood cancer research. It is true that more adults get diagnosed with cancer than kids, but does that mean that adults are 96% more important than children? The average age of diagnosis for an adult with cancer is age 67, and the average number of years lost is 15. 15 years are definitely many years, but not that many compared to the average number of years lost for a child- 71. Also, age 67 is a lot older than the average age of diagnoses for a child- age 6. At least the adults get to grow up and have the ability to even have cancer- some of these kids can’t even get through a fifth of their lives.
In 1994, a new method was a new beginning to diagnose non-hodgkin’s lymphoma, “it was named the Revised European-American Classification of Lymphoid Neoplasms (REAL classification). World Health Organization (WHO) Classification of Tumors of Hematopoietic and Lymphoid Tissues was an effort that involved 138 authors and two clinical advisory committees consisting of 62 clinical specialists with expertise in myeloid and lymphoid disorders”. (Tomislav Meštrović
When one hears the word “cancer”, thoughts about how their previous life is about to change cloud the mind, but when one hears the word cancer for their child, it is a whole different outlook; the affects of childhood cancer are not only taken on by the patients, but also by their families; the affects can range from emotionally to physically, socially to financially, and even educationally. “Childhood cancer is considered rare, especially compared with adults. Still it’s the leading cause of death in children pre-adolescent, school-aged children” (Report: Childhood Cancer Rates Continue to Rise, but Treatment Helps Drive Down Deaths). Around 12,000 children in the United States are diagnosed with cancer every year and around one in five children that are diagnosed with cancer will die.
Hodgkin's and Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma: Differences? and similarity on MedicineNet.com. Retrieved December 9, 2013, from http://www.cdl.gov http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=79261 Turley, Susan M. (2014). The 'Path of Medical language (third ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson. Education & Training, Inc. Zimmerman, K. A. & Co.,