Burkitt Lymphoma

Burkitt lymphoma usually starts in your child’s abdomen (belly) or chest and may spread into their lymph nodes.

The two main types of Burkitt lymphoma in children are:

• Sporadic: The most common type in the U.S. It typically affects kids ages 3 to 12.
• Endemic: Most often seen in Central Africa, it’s linked to the Epstein-Barr virus (the one that causes infectious mononucleosis). Children with this type usually have facial jaw tumors.

Burkitt Lymphoma is a fast-growing and fast-spreading cancer. Symptoms can come on suddenly and get worse quickly. It can be hard to diagnose because many of the symptoms (fatigue, nausea, lack of appetite, weakness and belly pain) are like those of common illnesses and infections.

But your child has a good chance of going into long-term remission (no symptoms or sign of cancer) if they start treatment right away. So getting a diagnosis as soon as possible is important.

What to expect at your first visit

Getting to know your child and helping them feel comfortable with us is very important. So your first visit will start with a conversation. We’ll ask you and your child (depending on their age) a few questions. We’ll want to know:

• What symptoms they’ve been having
• When these symptoms started
• If they’re getting worse
• How these symptoms are affecting their life
• Your child’s medical history
• If any other family members have had cancer

Your child may also get a physical exam. And we may order some tests to help us confirm a diagnosis. Before we actually do any tests, though, one of our child life specialists will sit down with your child to go over what they can expect and answer their questions. These caring providers can help ease your child’s anxiety — and yours.

Testing

Your child’s provider may order one or more of these tests:

• Lymph node or any other tumor biopsy
• Bone marrow biopsy
• CT scan
• MRI
• PET scan
• Cerebrospinal fluid cytology
• Blood tests

Second Opinions for Burkitt Lymphoma

Learning your child has a rare cancer can upend your world and cause may different emotions. Making sure they have the best possible care from pediatric healthcare providers you trust is the most important thing.

That’s why, at Cleveland Clinic Children’s, we encourage second opinions. Second opinions can help put your mind at ease knowing you have the most capable and compassionate team by your child’s side. And because we know cancer doesn’t wait, we try to get you and your child in to see us as soon as possible. Our pediatric oncology team will quickly dive in, offering expertise and treatment options. They’ll answer your questions, listen to your concerns and guide you through what to expect — before, during and after treatment.

Meet Our Burkitt Lymphoma Team

The pediatric cancer specialists at Cleveland Clinic Children’s work closely with pediatric providers from many different specialties to care for your child. This team makes sure your child gets the exact care they need when they need it. Their team could include:

• Pediatric oncologists
• Pediatric surgeons
• Pediatric hematologists
• Pediatric immunotherapy and bone marrow transplantation specialists
• Pediatric radiologists
• Pediatric pathologists
• Pediatric nurse practitioners
• Pediatric social workers
• Child psychologists
• Child life specialists

If your child’s test results confirm they have Burkitt lymphoma, we’ll start personalized treatment right away. Their treatment plan will depend on the size of the tumor, where it is, how fast it’s growing and if it’s spread (metastasized).

Throughout treatment, your child’s pediatric care team will meet weekly to talk about your child’s progress and adjust their care plan if needed. They’ll also keep your family in the loop every step of the way, so you’ll always know what’s going on and what to expect.  

Your child may have a combination of these treatments:

Chemotherapy

Your child will need chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is a powerful medication that destroys cancer cells and prevents them from multiplying. We’ll give your child chemo in the hospital. And we’ll watch them closely throughout their chemo treatments to see how they respond and help manage any side effects.

Immunotherapy

We’ll add immunotherapy drugs in combination with chemotherapy. These medications help your child’s immune system kill the lymphoma cells or slow their growth. We give immunotherapy through a vein in your child’s arm, which may take several hours.

Surgery

Your child’s pediatric oncologist may recommend surgery if a large tumor is causing pain or a blockage. We may take out the whole tumor or just part of it. And we may do this procedure before beginning chemotherapy or immunotherapy.

Fertility preservation

Cancer and its treatments can affect your child’s reproductive system in many different ways, including damaging their ovaries or testes. Your child’s pediatric providers can talk with you about ways to preserve your child’s fertility before starting their treatment plan.

Follow-up care

Your child’s care doesn’t end after treatment. Our pediatric oncology team provides long-term follow-up care for children of all ages who’ve had childhood cancer. We’ll keep a close eye on their progress after treatment and also give them the emotional support they need along the way. As they grow, our adolescent and young adult cancer program helps your child move comfortably from pediatric care to adult providers.

Taking the Next Step

Burkitt lymphoma wasn’t the diagnosis you were prepared to hear. But now that you know, you want to make sure your child has a top cancer team on their side. Our expert pediatric oncology providers are here to ease your fears. We use the latest lymphoma treatments paired with caring support and the expertise of our other pediatric specialists to give your child personalized, comprehensive and compassionate care. At Cleveland Clinic Children’s, you can be sure that your child will have the very best chance for long-term remission and good health.