What Is Pediatric Hodgkins Disease?
Hodgkin's disease is a cancer hat occurs in the lymphatic system, a part of the immune system. Hodgkin's lymphoma reduces the immune system's ability to fight infection and disease.
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Hodgkin's Disease in Children
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Hodgkin's disease rarely occurs in children under the age of 5 but is more common in adolescents; it constitutes about 6 percent of all childhood cancers. Fortunately, it's one of the most curable forms of cancer.
Symptoms
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Swollen lymph nodes in the neck, armpits or groin; chronic fatigue; fever; weight loss; cough; night sweats; and itching are the most common symptoms of Hodgkin's lymphoma. These symptoms can have various causes, but a physician should be consulted if they are persistent or recurring.
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Causes and Risk Factors
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The cause of lymphoma is still unknown, but it involves the overproduction of abnormal B cells known as Reed-Sternberg cells. You can be at risk for this cancer if you are 15 to 40 or over 55, male, have a family history of Hodgkin's disease or a weak immune system.
Treatment
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Treatment depends upon age, symptoms, overall health and how far the cancer has progressed. Treatments include chemotherapy, radiation and bone marrow transplants; a single treatment or a combination may be required.
Statistics
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According to the American Cancer Society, more than 8,500 people were diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2009, and 10 to 15 percent were children and teenagers. The five-year general survival rate is 85 percent but more than 95 percent for children and patients under 20.
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