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.
Hodgkin's Disease in Children
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
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.
Causes and Risk Factors
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 .
Treatment
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
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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