Burkitt’s lymphoma is an uncommon type of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. Burkitt’s lymphoma commonly affects children. It is a highly aggressive type of lymphoma that often starts and involves body parts other than lymph nodes. Burkitt’s lymphoma is often curable with intensive chemotherapies.
Mine was diagnosed as Follicular, one of them anyway. I have 2 different forms of Lymphoma, so I am no newbie at this by no means.
Burkitts, is an uncommon one. Although during my chemo treatment days, I sat and shared the chemo room with a woman who had it. Unfortunately, I did not keep in contact with her, so I do not know of her state of condition with it. But, at last being with her, she was doing as fine as I was.
She did teach me about hers though and I will gladly, share with anyone reading this what I do know.
Burkitt’s lymphoma usually affects children and so, she and her oncologist which was also, mine, was caught off guard at this diagnosis. It is a highly aggressive type of B-cell lymphoma that often starts and involves body parts other than lymph nodes. Because of its fast-growing nature, (however, Burkitt’s lymphoma is often curable), which is why I am hoping she is still well.
There are two types of Burkitt’s lymphoma. The sporadic and the endemic varieties. There is a very high incidence of this disease in Africa, and this disease in USA is called, Endemic Burkitt’s lymphoma. Although they are the same disease, the two forms are different in many ways.
This is interesting enough, it is related to at a high percentage of, (95%) to EBV. The Epstein Barr Virus. The good news is this, that in over 80% of the cases, more than 50% are CURED, and most are kids… YES! EVEN though this is a very aggressive form of Lymphoma it is VERY treatable and CUREABLE.
If you are afflicted with it, have hope because it is there, it is always there; and where it concerns kids it is even more important that you do, keep the hope alive.
Cancer should not happen to kids, not that it should to anyone, but it is just that much more unfair when it hits a young life. While I was on chemo, I was always fearful of having to sit and have chemo done with a kid nearby. That would had broken my heart and being that Burkitts is primarily a kids form of cancer, it is that much more disturbing but, equally as joyful when there are cures on the horizon for those young ones.
The EBV is something which can be caught while having a cold which leads into MONO… Hence, beware of those sore throats and swollen glands, it would be time to have it checked out, get on antibotics to ward off getting the EBV.
I had MONO at age 13, and had to take Vitamin B-12 shots, and to this day, I wonder since I was so sick back then, (I am age 56), if that Epstein Barr Virus had played a role in my getting Non Hodgkins Lymphoma. I was tested through a blood test and it was positive that I had the Epstein Barr Virus, but to be truthful, the Epstein Barr Virus is also, a common virus, but one with dangerous effects. Do not fret over it, but do have it checked so it doesn’t get worse for you down the road.