non-hodgkin lymphoma

Dr. Matthew Barth is a St. Baldrick’s Scholar at the University of Buffalo in Buffalo, New York. He is studying ways to help kids with non-Hodgkin lymphoma who don’t respond to treatment.

What is non-Hodgkin lymphoma?

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is a cancer of white blood cells called lymphocytes. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma generally involves the lymph nodes, but can also involve many other organs, including the bones, bone marrow, liver, spleen, brain and skin.

There are many types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Children tend to have more aggressive forms of the disease, while adults frequently have less aggressive forms. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is very rare in children younger than 3 years old and is seen more often in adolescents.

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When Asaph Schwapp — known to many as “Ace” — passed away from non-Hodgkin lymphoma, his friend and Notre Dame football teammate vowed to do something big to honor him. And so the Tough as Ace Hero Fund was born. Learn more about St. Baldrick’s Hero Funds.

Ace’s friends competed in a triathlon to raise money for childhood cancer research in honor of Ace. Their jerseys bear Ace’s football jersey number.

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Leslie shares her thoughts before her first shave last year with the 46 Mommas.

Leslie with her son, Brian, before shaving her head with the 46 Mommas. Brian is in remission from Hodgkin lymphoma.

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Aaron was always the picture of health. Then at 15, the avid athlete was diagnosed with Burkitt non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Aaron wasn’t unfamiliar with childhood cancer. He had been a St. Baldrick’s shavee since the age of 11 and even created a team called the Bald Buddies.

Ambassador Aaron, his dad, Gregory, his mom, Dana, and his sister, Rita, proudly display the Team Aaron banner.

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Leslie recounts how her life changed when her son was diagnosed with childhood cancer, and how her shave with the 46 Mommas helped her regain control. Donate on Leslie’s head.

Leslie Jermainne and her son, Brian, after she shaved her head at the 46 Mommas head-shaving event in July.

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Natalie, one of our Honored Kids, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in September 2013. When the first-grader lost her hair during treatment, she wasn’t alone. Her whole family, including her 4-year-old sister, went bald with her. Her mother, Tarah, explains.

Natalie’s family shaved their heads for childhood cancer research at a St. Baldrick’s event in Florida. From left to right (top): David, Tarah, Fred (Pawpaw) and Carolyn (Nanny); Left to right (bottom): John, Natalie, Evelyn and Eliza Jane. Photograph by Renee Jacobsen

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Dr. Choi, a St. Baldrick’s Scholar, completed a phase II clinical trial testing a new drug to help kids with leukemia and other childhood cancers, and the results are encouraging. Help fund research like Dr. Choi’s. Get involved.

Kids with leukemia, like 2011 Ambassador Julia, sometimes have to undergo a stem cell transplant as part of their childhood cancer treatment. Graft-versus-host disease is a common complication of transplants.

For some kids with cancer, a stem cell transplant is their only hope for a cure. But stem cell transplants are very risky procedures. About half of all transplant patients will experience acute graft-versus-host disease, or GVHD, an often fatal complication where the transplanted immune cells attack the patient’s body.

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Daniel was diagnosed with childhood cancer when he was 11. Now 25, he’s in medical school and he shaved his head for St. Baldrick’s in March to help fund children’s cancer research.

I loved the ball-handling that the coaches taught us. I loved the teamwork that went into winning games. I loved the feeling of making a shot into the basket. I loved the fact that I could outrun and out-maneuver the other payers because I was small and nimble.

But that January of 2001, I did not like the game one bit.

I was at tryouts for my middle school’s basketball team and of course I was so excited for the day to have finally come. But when the coaches started making everyone do drills, I had a very hard time keeping up with the other boys.

My chest was tight. I was wheezing and felt short of breath. I brushed it off to being a “coach potato” the entire summer, but it did not get any better over the course of the three days of tryouts.

This was the beginning of a journey I will never forget.

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It might be the only bake sale you’ll ever see that’s entirely calorie-free, and it’s helping kids with cancer.

When Annika was 11, she was diagnosed with Burkitt lymphoma, a very fast-growing cancer in children. She endured surgery followed by radiation and two rounds of intense chemotherapy, which left her extremely tired, nauseous, and in a lot of pain. She celebrated her 12^th birthday in a hospital room.

Annika with her brother on her 12^th birthday while she was in treatment for childhood cancer.

Today, Annika is celebrating five years cancer free.

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After his fourth shave for St. Baldrick’s, Aaron found out he had childhood cancer. The end of March marked one year of remission for Aaron. He shares his thoughts after his sixth St. Baldrick’s event. (Find an event near you!)

Aaron in 2012 before he was diagnosed with pediatric cancer.

At that time, I thought the idea of shaving my head would be cool and kind of fun. I was one of the only kids in my town to participate. After a few more years of being a shavee, I learned more about the St. Baldrick’s Foundation and the importance of raising money and shaving your head to support children’s cancer research.

I created my own team, the Bald Buddies, and encouraged some friends from school to raise money and shave their heads with me. As the years went on, my team, as well as the event, grew larger and larger.

Around Thanksgiving of 2012, I noticed a grape-sized bump on the side of my neck. My mom thought it was a swollen gland but since I didn’t have any other symptoms, we waited to see if it changed or went away.

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