Childhood Lymphoma
Recognized as a Top 50 Cancer Program by U.S. News & World Report 2025-2026
Lymphomas account for about 8% of childhood cancers. If your child receives a lymphoma diagnosis, where you seek treatment matters. Our experts have decades of experience treating childhood lymphoma in the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Cancer & Blood Disorders Institute in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Why Choose Johns Hopkins All Children’s
Our patients and families receive care from a devoted team that provides individualized attention, treatment and emotional support. Your child’s care team will be with you and your family throughout the process, helping every step of the way, and we work closely with specialists throughout the hospital to provide your child with expert care that meets their unique needs.
When your child comes to us for lymphoma treatment, you can expect:
- Experience and expertise: We are among the largest pediatric cancer programs in Florida, and our experience and high volume leads to better outcomes for all our patients.
- Advanced treatments: We offer patients advanced chemotherapy and immunotherapy, lifesaving bone marrow transplants and CAR T-cell therapy.
- Expanded safety measures: Our oncology ward is specially designed to help reduce infection transmission. We know that treatment for lymphoma can leave children at higher risk for infectious diseases, and we take every precaution to prevent that.
- High success rates: Our innovative treatments are saving the lives of children with lymphoma.
- Cancer screening program: If one child in your family has an inherited gene mutation (cancer predisposition gene) associated with blood cancer, we can screen siblings, carefully monitoring them for the earliest signs of cancer, as part of our Cancer Predisposition Program.
- Access to clinical trials: Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital is a member of the Children’s Oncology Group (COG) and the only Florida-based site in the Pediatric Early Phase Clinical Trials Network (PEP-CTN). As such, Johns Hopkins All Children’s serves as a critical access point for early-phase, precision-guided clinical trials for patients across Florida and beyond. Johns Hopkins All Children’s is also a member of the Sunshine Project Consortium and the Beat Childhood Cancer Consortium (BCC) and serves as a site for both investigator-initiated and industry-sponsored clinical trials.
- Compassionate care: Our multidisciplinary team is committed to supporting you and your child through every step of the process.
Conditions We Treat in the Lymphoma Program
There are two main types of lymphoma:
- Hodgkin lymphoma: This type of lymphoma is most common in teens and young adults. It is rare in young children.
- Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL): This type of lymphoma is more common in children up to age 14. It occurs two to three times more often in boys than girls. There are many different types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, which require different types of treatment.
Lymphoma Treatment and Care
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If your child has lymphoma symptoms, your doctor will order various tests to confirm a diagnosis. These tests may include:
- Lymph node biopsy: Patients will be referred to the hospital’s surgery team for lymph node biopsy and will undergo a procedure to remove all or part of a lymph node. Once we have a sample, we analyze it in the lab to determine the presence and type of lymphoma.
- Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy: Using a thin, hollow needle, we remove bone marrow samples to check for signs of lymphoma.
- Lumbar puncture: This test is sometimes called a spinal tap. We use a thin, hollow needle to remove a spinal fluid sample and check it for lymphoma cells.
With the right treatment, many children survive lymphoma. Your child’s doctor will explain the benefits and risks of your treatment options. Recommended therapies depend on the type of lymphoma and your child’s age and overall health.
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At your child’s first pediatric oncology visit, you will meet the care team, review medical history and any prior test results, and discuss the diagnosis or next steps in evaluation. We will explain the recommended treatment plan, possible side effects, and what the timeline may look like. Our team will also review supportive resources and ensure you leave with a clear plan and contact information for questions or urgent concerns.
At follow-up visits, we will check in on how your child is feeling, review lab results, and monitor for side effects or response to treatment. If your child is receiving chemotherapy or other medications by infusion, visits may last several hours, along with time for medications and supportive care. We will review symptoms to watch for at home and ensure you know how to reach our team between visits for any concerns.
Learn More About Lymphoma
What is Lymphoma?
Lymphoma is cancer that starts in the body’s lymphatic (lymph) system, an essential part of the body’s immune system. The lymph system is made up of lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell. These cells help fight off infection from viruses, bacteria and fungi. When cancerous cells begin to grow in the lymphocytes, they can quickly spread throughout the lymph system to other areas of the body.
What Causes Lymphoma in Children?
Doctors and scientists don’t know the exact cause of lymphoma. One theory suggests that it may result from the body’s response to a virus or infection, such as Epstein-Barr. If your child’s immune system isn’t functioning properly, the lymphocytes meant to fight off infection may divide and multiply abnormally. Environmental factors or genetics may also increase the risk of childhood lymphoma.
What are the early symptoms of lymphoma in children?
Lymphoma begins in the lymph system. One of the first signs is often a swollen lymph node near the neck, underarms, collarbone or groin. You can feel an enlarged lymph node as a bump under the skin, but they are usually not painful. Other symptoms that may indicate lymphoma include:
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Night sweats
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Swollen abdomen
- Unexplained weight loss