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At SJD Barcelona Children's Hospital, we have extensive experience in the treatment and care of children with lymphomas, including Hodgkin's lymphoma, which is most common in adolescents and adults, however sometimes also in younger children. We strive to ensure that our care not only helps to cure the disease, but also guarantees a healthy and fulfilling future for each of our young patients.
What is Hodgkin lymphoma?
Hodgkin lymphoma in children and adolescents (mainly prepubertal children of 9-16 years old) is characterised by the appearance of enlarged lymph nodes, especially in the neck and collarbones. These symptoms, which usually develop over a period of two to three months, may be accompanied by fever, weight loss, severe itching of the skin, profuse sweating, and significant fatigue.
Proper diagnosis and identification of these symptoms is crucial. At SJD Barcelona Children's Hospital, we perform a biopsy of the affected lymph node to ensure an accurate diagnosis and apply the most effective treatment available
The importance of an accurate diagnosis of Hodgkin lymphoma
For any family and patient facing this disease, the diagnostic phase should be an absolute priority. How should it be carried out?
- Diagnosis, as well as the treatment itself, should be undertaken in a specialised paediatric cancer centre, such as SJD Barcelona Children's Hospital, which can guarantee all the necessary conditions.
- It is important that the diagnosis is reached in accordance with the paediatric protocol, and not the adult protocol, which can lead to incorrect results and therefore ineffective treatment.
- A thorough and complete diagnosis must be reached in order to prescribe the most accurate treatment and avoid recurrences or problems in the future.
- After the necessary examinations have been carried out, the correct treatment should be chosen. There are three possible options according to the diagnosed risk group, and only an accurate diagnosis will determine which chemotherapy is right for this child.
"It is important that parents choose a paediatric cancer centre. These efforts are necessary because they will be critical for both diagnosis and follow-up treatment," stated Doctor Celis. Veronica Paola Celis.
Approach to the treatment of Hodgkin’s lymphoma at SJD Barcelona Children's Hospital
At SJD Barcelona Children’s Hospital, we follow the European protocol "EURONET", focussed on the treatment of Hodgkin’s lymphoma exclusively with chemotherapy, leaving radiotherapy only for very specific cases. This approach enables us to minimise long-term side effects, such as heart problems or the appearance of secondary cancers, which can appear 30 years after treatment. We aim to ensure that at the end of treatment, every child can return to normal life with minimal consequences.
Advanced Treatment and Multidisciplinary Care
Treatment at SJD Barcelona Children’s Hospital is outpatient, lasting between 4 and 6 months, depending on the specific needs of each case. Approximately 50% of our patients may experience febrile neutropenia, however hospitalisation is usually short-lived, with an average stay of 3 days, making treatment less disruptive to the lives of the children and their families.
We have a highly trained multidisciplinary team that includes oncologists, radiologists, oncology nurses, cardiologists, infectious disease specialists, and rehabilitation specialists. Each professional strives to provide comprehensive and personalised care at every stage of the treatment, thus guaranteeing the best possible attention and supervision. All of them are under the direction of Dr Veronica Paola Celis, who coordinates the work of the specialists assigned to each patient.
B At SJD Barcelona Children ́s Hospital we have a permanent oncology team working around the clock to ensure that children can always get the best care.
Patients with recurrent Hodgkin’s lymphoma
At SJD Barcelona Children ́s Hospital, we accept children who have initially been treated in other centres and come to us as a result of unsatisfactory treatment results due to lack of response to the prescribed treatment, and with relapses of the disease. For all such patients, we have protocols of action for both refractory patients and those who do not respond to treatment. There are different protocols of action that we call "Lifelines". In addition, in these cases, it is especially important to find the best alternatives for treatment, based on what has already been used. In addition to this, at SJD Barcelona Children's Hospital, we have a BMT (Bone Marrow Transplant) centre for cases where bone marrow transplantation or autologous transplantation is necessary.
Our concern does not end with the cure of patients with Hodgkin’s lymphoma
In addition to the treatment of Hodgkin’s lymphoma, at SJD Barcelona Children ́s Hospital, we focus on the long-term quality of life of our patients. This includes cryopreservation of ovarian tissue (for girls and women) or sperm (for boys past puberty, over 13 years old) to ensure that the children and adolescents treated at our hospital have the opportunity to plan families in the future without complications related to the treatment process.
According to Dr. Celis, the evolution of treatment in recent years has made it possible to shift the focus of therapy and, therefore, to add more attention to the future years of the patient's life: " When I started working as an oncologist, radiation therapy was indicated in 70% of cases; thanks to international collaboration protocols for Hodgkin ‘slymphoma, our current goal is to ensure that radiotherapy indications do not exceed 15%."
Family support and ongoing follow-up
We provide close follow-up after Hodgkin’s lymphoma treatment, including regular checkups and vaccination after treatment. These follow-ups last for 5-10 years (depending on the age of the initial manifestation of the disease), during which we carry out all the necessary tests in one day, when necessary, thus minimising the impact on the daily lives of patients and their families.
A Promising Future
At SJD Barcelona Children's Hospital, we not only treat Hodgkin’s lymphoma, but also strive to educate and support families throughout the process. Our success rate, with a survival rate of 90%, reflects our commitment not only to treatment, but also to preventing future complications, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to live a full and healthy life.
We believe that every child deserves the best medical care, and we are committed to providing them with the highest standards of care and compassion.
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