Leukemias and lymphomas are both forms of blood cancer, but they affect the body differently.
Leukemia is cancer of the white blood cells. White blood cells fight infections and other diseases.
In leukemia, the bone marrow, which is the spongy material inside a bone, creates many white blood cells that aren’t normal. They then crowd the bone marrow and get into the bloodstream. Unlike healthy white blood cells, they can’t protect the body from infections.
Leukemia is the most common type of cancer in children. But most kids and teens treated for leukemia are cured of the disease.
Lymphoma starts in lymphocytes, the types of white blood cells that are created in the bone marrow and move around the blood until they become part of the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is the part of the body that fights germs and includes lymph nodes, the spleen, the thymus gland and bone marrow. When lymphoma occurs, the white blood cells turn cancerous and grow out of control, and don’t work properly with the lymphatic system.
There are several different types of lymphomas. Some involve lymphoid cells and are grouped under the heading of Hodgkin lymphoma. All other forms of lymphoma fall into the non-Hodgkin lymphoma grouping.
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What are the signs and symptoms of leukemias and lymphomas?
Symptoms of leukemias
Children with leukemia tend to get more viral or bacterial infections than other children. This is because the white blood cells can’t fight off infections. They may also get anemia, which means a low number of red blood cells. Some symptoms of anemia include feeling weak or tired, paleness, easily bruising, excessive nose bleeds and bleeding more than normal after a minor cut.
Other symptoms of leukemia can include:
- Pain in the bones or joints, sometimes causing a limp
- Swollen glands (lymph nodes) in the neck, groin, or elsewhere
- Poor appetite and weight loss
- Fevers with no other symptoms
- Belly pain
Symptoms of lymphomas
Some symptoms of lymphomas may include:
- Swollen glands in neck, armpits or groin
- Feeling very tired
- Fever
- Night sweats
- Shortness of breath
- Unexplained weight loss
- Itchy skin
What causes leukemias and lymphomas?
Doctors don’t know exactly what causes leukemia and lymphomas. Most cases happen when there is a spontaneous mutation, or change, in a gene. (Spontaneous genetic mutations are not passed down from a parent.)
How are leukemias and lymphomas treated?
Doctors at Connecticut Children’s can determine the right plan if your child requires treatment for leukemia or lymphoma.
Our pediatric oncologists create a personalized treatment plan for every patient, working closely with the patient and their family. This treatment may include chemotherapy, radiation therapy or stem cell transplants.