What is lymphoma?
Lymphoma refers to any cancer starting in the lymphatic system, a vital part of the body’s immune system. The lymphatic system acts both as a protector — helping the body defend itself against invaders like germs, bacteria and viruses — and a filter — removing debris like dead blood cells and foreign matter from the blood.
Lymphoma is a rare type of blood cancer that occurs when cells in the lymphatic system, called lymphocytes, become abnormal and replicate quickly. These cells then travel throughout the body and use up nutrients and energy, starving healthy cells and making it hard for the lymphatic system to do its job.
What types of lymphoma does St. Jude treat?
At St. Jude, we treat both Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) in children.
Starts in the lymph system and causes affected lymph nodes to become enlarged
Refers to all types of lymphoma that are not Hodgkin lymphoma
How do donations to St. Jude help lymphoma reseach?
St. Jude is headquarters for the Pediatric Hodgkin Lymphoma Consortium which brings hospitals and researchers from around the country together to find and develop new treatments for children with Hodgkin lymphoma. Additionally, patients who come to St. Jude for lymphoma treatment have access to an expert team of healthcare professionals in both Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Overall, St. Jude has helped raise the overall childhood cancer survival rate from just 20% when we opened our doors in 1962, to more than 80% today. When you donate to lymphoma research at St. Jude, your support helps fund the groundbreaking cancer research and treatment methods, and it ensures no family ever receives a bill for treatment, travel, housing or food — so they can focus on helping their child live.
How to support lymphoma research
Your donation helps St. Jude provide breakthrough research, treatment and cures for life-threatening pediatric illnesses, such as lymphoma. Your donation is tax-deductible and helps us provide children cutting-edge treatments not covered by insurance, at no cost to families.
Here are some ways to contribute to leukemia research and treatment at St. Jude:
- Contribute with a single donation via postal mail or online.
- Pledge ongoing monthly gifts by becoming a St. Jude Partner in Hope.
- Find out if your employer will match your donation and find ways to get your workplace involved.
- Create a lasting legacy when you donate through your will or bequest.
Background: image of leukemia cells.
Your support helps patients like Alana
In the future, Alana dreams of being a teacher, a lawyer, a ballerina and a scientist. But when she was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, those big dreams were threatened. Alana was referred to St. Jude for treatment and today she’s back to chasing her dreams.
Donations to St. Jude help ensure children like Alana the chance to grow up.
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