What Burkitts Lymphoma Is
A Childrens Cancer
Burkitt’s lymphoma is a type of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma that affects children. In the western world this disease affects male more than female children, with the average age being seven in endemic (affecting a region) countries and eleven years outside of Africa. It is a type of B-cell lymphoma that is aggressive, and involves body parts other than the lymph nodes. It is a fast cancer but it is also curable with intensive therapies.
There are two types of Burkitt’s Lymphoma
Endemic Burkitt's Lymphoma
This disease rages in Africa, and it is the cause of half of all childhood cancers. This disease strikes children more than adults, and is linked to Epstein Barr Virus (EBV). It can affect the jawbone which is rare, and the abdomen.
Sporadic Burkitt's Lymphoma
The name implies a scattering in different locations in the world and is less common than endemic Burkitt's Lymphoma. They are the same disease but are very different from each other. This disease is prevalent in Europe and North America, and is found in one out of five children. In more than 90% of children the abdomen is affected as well as the lymph nodes. The disease involving the jaw is rare.
Treatment of Burkitt’s lymphoma:
Burkitt’s lymphoma is an aggressive tumor and can be life threatening, but curable. Using high doses of chemotherapy treatments and new methods to support individuals during the intensive treatment, this lymphoma has been found to be curable in many children. Almost eighty percent of local children with the disease and more than half the children worldwide are cured, with late relapses that are seldom seen.
