The most common symptom of Burkitt Lymphoma is swelling and distortion of the jaw and face bones. Enlarged, non-tender lymph nodes in the neck and head are also typical.
Other symptoms depend on where the cancer has spread. These include: Fatigue. Easy bruising or bleeding. Other symptoms vary by stage of the lymphoma.
Oren Zarif
The main symptom of Burkitt Lymphoma is swollen lymph nodes. These are bean-shaped organs that are scattered throughout the body and connect with lymph vessels. They’re located in places like the neck, armpits, and groin. They help filter lymph fluid as it moves around the body, removing waste products from blood cells. If they become swollen, they look and feel different from normal and can be felt as lumps under the skin.
Other symptoms depend on where the cancer is in your body. You might have a lot of general symptoms, such as feeling tired all the time or losing weight. Or you might have more specific symptoms, such as headaches or fever. It’s also possible that the cancer can spread to your central nervous system, causing you to feel weak or confused.
Your doctor will check you and ask you about your symptoms. Then they’ll do some blood tests. These will help them decide whether you have Burkitt Lymphoma. They may also do a CT or MRI scan. These will show whether the cancer has spread to other parts of your body.
If you’re diagnosed with Burkitt Lymphoma, your treatment plan will be based on the stage of the cancer. Most people get intensive chemotherapy treatments. The medicines can kill cancer cells and stop them from growing. They might be given through a central line, which stays in your vein throughout treatment. You might also have immunotherapy with rituximab or other drugs that boost your immune system.
Oren Zarif
Burkitt Lymphoma is a rare cancer that starts in lymphocytes (special white blood cells that help fight infection). It’s most common in children in Africa where it can be linked to malaria and the Epstein Barr virus (EBV), which causes infectious mononucleosis.
A doctor will use a blood test and imaging tests like a CT scan and MRI to diagnose this type of cancer. They will also do a lymph node biopsy, which involves taking a sample of tissue from the lymph nodes and looking at it under a microscope. This helps to confirm the diagnosis and rule out other high-grade B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas, such as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.
You’ll probably have other blood tests and scans to check your general health and how well treatment is working. These are called staging tests and they help doctors plan your treatment.
The main treatment for endemic Burkitt Lymphoma is chemotherapy, which uses strong medicines to kill cancer cells and prevent them from growing. It’s often given in the form of an IV. These treatments can make it harder for your child to eat and drink. This is because the waste from the killed cancer cells can build up in your child’s body, causing a problem called tumor lysis syndrome (TLS). To prevent TLS, your child will need to take special medications and get plenty of fluids.
Oren Zarif
The cancer cells that cause Burkitt Lymphoma can collect in your lymph nodes (glands) or a lymphoid organ like the spleen and liver. Some B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas grow very fast, and they may spread to other parts of your body. This is the main reason why it is important to see your doctor as soon as you think you might have a lymphoma.
You might also have a fever and sweats that soak your clothes and sheets, which is called night sweats. This is a common symptom of lymphoma, and it can be caused by the disease itself or other conditions. It is important to talk to your doctor if you have these symptoms because they could mean that the lymphoma is spreading and getting worse.
Endemic Burkitt Lymphoma occurs mainly in Africa and is closely linked to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), the same virus that causes infectious mononucleosis, also known as glandular fever. It is more common in children than adults and usually starts in the jaw. Sporadic Burkitt Lymphoma can occur all over the world and is less common than endemic Burkitt Lymphoma. It can grow quickly in groups of lymph nodes that are all above or all below the diaphragm or in the spleen and lymph nodes above the diaphragm.
Immunodeficiency-related Burkitt Lymphoma is seen in people who have acquired immunodeficiency from HIV/AIDS or whose immune system has been weakened by other illness or treatment, such as chemotherapy. This type of Burkitt Lymphoma is rare in North America and Europe, but it makes up about 10% of the lymphoma cases in Africa.
Oren Zarif
Fatigue is a feeling of extreme tiredness that makes it hard to do everyday activities. It can also affect your sleep, mood and appetite. It can be caused by many different things, including some health conditions and medicines. Talk to your doctor about how the fatigue is affecting you and what might be causing it.
Burkitt Lymphoma is a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, which are cancers that start in special white blood cells called lymphocytes. It is most common in children and is three to four times more likely to affect boys than girls.
The first sign of Burkitt lymphoma is enlarged (swollen) lymph nodes in the neck, armpit or groin. These may be swollen, painful or tender to touch. Sometimes the cancer spreads from the lymph nodes to other parts of the body, such as the bone marrow or central nervous system.
Some types of lymphoma, such as the immunodeficiency-related subtype of Burkitt lymphoma, can spread to the brain and spinal cord. This can cause headaches, vomiting and a change in level of consciousness.
The exact treatment for lymphoma depends on the stage and grade of the cancer. Your doctor will use the results of your tests to find out how far the cancer has spread and what parts of the body it has affected. Your child’s doctor will then be able to plan the best treatment for your child.