Cancer Survivor Transplant Eligibility

If a child has previously been diagnosed and treated for Burkitt's Lymphoma with the CCG 5961 protocol has been in remission for 5+ years, would they be eligible for a heart transplant or would the previous diagnosis disqualify them?

[Elizabeth B. Rand, MD]

Hi -

thank you for your question.  I think at most programs a child who is 5+ years out from Burkitt's lymphoma would be considered eligible for evaluation for heart transplant.  Individual programs would have their own policies on this issue.  It would be best to contact the heart transplant coordinator for programs of interest and pose this question in order to find out where to go for evaluation.  If a child has heart failure related to past chemotherapy for example, the child's oncologists would likely help to identify an appropriate heart transplant center.  
best wishes