Childhood Cancer Facts

"Hodgkin's Disease" (Cancer of Lymph Nodes)

Incidence:

• Every year in the United States, 6,000 to 7,000 new cases are diagnosed. In the U.S. and Northern Europe, Hodgkin's disease is rare before the age of 5, with gradual rise in incidence until adolescence.

Survival Rate:

• Limited-risk - 90-100%
• Advanced-risk - 70-90%

Causes:

• The virus that causes mononucleosis (Epstein-Barr virus) is believed to play some role in the development of some cases of Hodgkin's disease. New approaches to treatment and research are still being investigated.

Description:

• Hodgkin's disease is a cancer characterized by progressive enlargement of the lymph nodes, spleen and liver and by progressive anemia. Boys are more likely than girls to develop Hodgkin's disease. Siblings of patients have a slightly increased risk of developing the disease.

Current Treatment Options:

• Currently, chemotherapy is often used in conjunction with low dose radiation. Radiation therapy is very effective for localized disease, but may significantly impair growth of bones and soft tissue in young children. Newer risk-adapted therapies are under investigation to determine if it is possible to reduce the amount of treatment (which should reduce the amount of long-term side effects of heart, lung disease and second cancers while still maintaining cure rates).