Information for Childhood Cancer Survivors Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
Fact sheet #21 Supportive care for childhood non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Supportive care helps children and their families meet the physical, practical, emotional and
spiritual challenges of childhood non-Hodgkin lymphoma. It is an important part of cancer
care. There are many programs and services available to help meet the needs and improve the quality of life of children living with cancer and their loved ones, especially after treatment
Recovering from non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and adjusting to life after treatment is
different for each child, depending on the extent of the disease, the type of treatment and many other factors. The end of cancer treatment may bring mixed emotions. Even though
treatment has ended, there may be other issues to deal with, such as coping with long-term
side effects. A child who has been treated for NHL may have the following concerns.
Heart problems Certain chemotherapy drugs used to treat NHL, such as doxorubicin (Adriamycin), can have
late effects on the heart. These heart problems can include: abnormal heartbeat (arrhythmia) disease of the heart muscle (cardiomyopathy) congestive heart failure
Lung problems Lung problems can occur from treatment with certain chemotherapy drugs. Pneumonitis
(inflammation of the lungs) is the most common lung problem caused by certain chemotherapy drugs, such as doxorubicin. The major concern of pneumonitis is the potential
for it to progress to pulmonary fibrosis. Pulmonary fibrosis is the formation of scar tissue in
the lungs as a result of inflammation, injury or both.
Liver problems Certain chemotherapy drugs, such as vincristine (Oncovin), can damage the liver. The liver may become enlarged (hepatomegaly). If the liver damage increases, the liver may become
hard (fibrosis) and scarred (cirrhosis).
Musculoskeletal problems Treatment with steroids, such as prednisone and dexamethasone (Decadron, Dexasone), can increase the risk of musculoskeletal problems, such as osteoporosis. Reproductive system problems Some chemotherapy drugs used to treat NHL, such as alkylating agents, can cause the gonads
(ovaries and testicles) to stop working. In males, this can cause problems like infertility and
1 888 939-3333 | cancer.ca Information for Childhood Cancer Survivors Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
Fact sheet #21
early or delayed puberty. In females, this can cause problems like infertility, early or delayed
Second cancers NHL survivors may have a higher risk of developing a second cancer. Alkylating agents and
etoposide (Vepesid) can increase the risk of developing acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).
The Canadian Cancer Society provides general information only. Talk to a qualified healthcare professional before making
medical decisions. The Canadian Cancer Society cannot guarantee that this information is error-free or complete.
Need more information? Contact the Canadian Cancer Society if you’d like more information about this or any other cancer-related topic. We can also
provide you with the references for this document. Call us toll-free at 1 888 939-3333 (TTY: 1 866-786-3934) or e-mail us 1 888 939-3333 | cancer.ca
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Information for Childhood Cancer Survivors 
Information for Childhood Cancer Survivors