n WHAT NEW METHODS OF TREATMENT ARE AVAILABLE? Hodgkin lymphoma has been studied more than any other type of lymphoma. With the many rapid advances in diagnosis and treatment, high survival rates have been reported in children with Hodgkin lymphoma using different treatment strategies. Children with stage I or II disease have a 95% survival rate. Children with stage III and IV disease typically have a survival rate near 90%. Most advances in the treatment of childhood cancer have been made through a process known as clinical trials. During clinical trials, the best-known (or standard) treatment for a cancer is compared with a new (or experimental) treatment that is believed to be at least as good as, and possibly better than, the standard treat - ment. Clinical trials enable doctors to determine whether new treatments are safe and effective. Clinical trials for Hodgkin lymphoma have focused on decreasing long-term side effects by reducing or eliminating radiation therapy and tailoring chemotherapy treatments. Participation in clinical trials is voluntary, and potential candidates must meet specific qualifications. Because clinical trials involve new treatment plans that are experimental, all of the possible risks of the treatment cannot be known ahead of time and unknown side effects may occur. However, children who participate in clinical trials can be among the first to benefit from new treatment approaches. Before making a decision about your child’s participation in a clinical trial, you should discuss all of the potential risks and benefits with your child’s treat- ment team. Additional information about clinical trials is available in the free booklet Taking Part in Clinical Trials: What Cancer Patients Need to Know by the National Cancer Institute (Publication No. 98-4250). To obtain the booklet and other useful information about childhood cancer, call 800.4CANCER (800.422.6237). The booklet also can be downloaded from the National Cancer Institute website at www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/learning. n WHAT ARE THE POTENTIAL LATE EFFECTS OF TREATMENT? Like all patients treated with chemotherapy and radiation, survivors of Hodgkin lymphoma may be at risk for developing side effects months or even years after treatment ends. Children who received radiation to the chest area as part of their cancer treatment are at risk for breast and cardiac complications. Other late effects may include delayed puberty in males, infertility, thyroid or lung problems, an increased risk of developing another cancer, delayed growth and development, and bone-health issues. Cancer survivors should seek appropriate cancer-related follow-up care to help them monitor their overall health after treatment ends. Many cancer centers throughout the country include survivor clinics that offer access to experts who can address a wide range of follow-up concerns. For more information about the specific long-term side effects of cancer treatment, visit curesearch.org.
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