Key Points for This Section

Childhood cancer survivors may have late effects that affect the spleen. Certain factors increase the risk that spleen late effects will occur. Spleen late effects may be caused by treatment for childhood Hodgkin lymphoma and other childhood cancers.

Childhood cancer survivors may have late effects that affect the spleen.

Spleen late effects may increase the risk of life-threatening bacterial infections.

Certain factors increase the risk that spleen late effects will occur.

The risk of spleen late effects may be increased in childhood cancer survivors who received either of the following:

• Splenectomy (surgery to remove the spleen).
• High- dose radiation therapy to the spleen.

It is very important that childhood cancer survivors who received either of these treatments keep immunizations up-to-date and receive antibiotics before having any dental work.

Spleen late effects may be caused by treatment for childhood Hodgkin lymphoma and other childhood cancers.

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