Stage 1 non-Hodgkin lymphoma: The cancer is found in a single region or organ, usually one lymph node and the surrounding area. For example, the cancer may be in one lymph node and the tonsils, or it may be found in only one area of an organ outside of the lymph nodes.
Limited disease generally means you have stage 1 or stage 2 NHL. The most common type of low grade NHL is follicular lymphoma. For limited disease, you are most likely to have radiotherapy to the affected lymph nodes. This can help control the lymphoma for a long time, and may cure it.
For stage I NHL, the 5-year relative survival rate is more than 86%. For stage II the 5-year relative survival rate is 78%, and for stage III it is more than 72%. For stage IV NHL, the 5-year relative survival rate is almost 64%.
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is usually treated with chemotherapy or radiotherapy, although some people may not need treatment straight away. In a few cases, if the initial cancer is very small and can be removed during a biopsy, no further treatment may be needed.
Treatment for stage 1 Hodgkin lymphoma is usually 2 to 4 cycles of chemotherapy. You might also have radiotherapy.
A short course of treatment usually takes about 6 to 12 weeks. Or you might have a longer course of chemotherapy and a targeted drug, without radiotherapy. Whether you have radiotherapy depends on factors such as where the lymphoma is in the body and how fit you are.
In stage I, cancer is found in one of the following places in the lymph system: (1) one or more lymph nodes in a group of lymph nodes; (2) Waldeyer's ring; (3) thymus; or (4) spleen. In stage IE, cancer is found in one area outside the lymph system.
Many people with high-grade NHL are cured. But if the lymphoma does not completely respond to treatment your doctor may talk to you about having more intensive treatment. This may involve high-dose chemotherapy with a stem cell transplant using your own or a donor's stem cells.
Survival for all non-Hodgkin lymphomas
around 80 out of every 100 people (around 80%) survive their cancer for 1 year or more after they are diagnosed. around 65 out of every 100 people (around 65%) survive their cancer for 5 years or more after diagnosis.
Surgery isn't often used to treat non-Hodgkin lymphoma. But it can be used to remove a lymph node for testing, to remove limited disease from an affected organ or more rarely to remove the spleen.
2.2.
Men had a 0.33% cumulative lifetime risk of NHL mortality, while the risk for women was estimated at 0.21%.
Stage 1. 90 out of 100 people (90%) will survive their Hodgkin lymphoma for 5 years or more after diagnosis.
It takes time but most people adjust well to life after a diagnosis of lymphoma and find a 'new normal'. This might involve making some changes to your everyday life.
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is caused by a change (mutation) in the DNA of a type of white blood cell called lymphocytes, although the exact reason why this happens isn't known. DNA gives cells a basic set of instructions, such as when to grow and reproduce.
NHL is a serious condition but commonly has a relatively promising outlook. Most people with NHL survive at least 5 years after a diagnosis. However, older people are more likely to die from the condition. Other factors that affect the outlook include the stage and spread of the cancer.
Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy kills fast-growing cells, including cancer cells. This is the treatment most often used for non-Hodgkin lymphoma. And since chemotherapy may lower certain types of blood cells, a transfusion of a type of drug called blood cell growth factors may be needed.
Follicular lymphoma may go away without treatment. The patient is closely watched for signs or symptoms that the disease has come back. Treatment is needed if signs or symptoms occur after the cancer disappeared or after initial cancer treatment.
There are no guidelines for preventing non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. To reduce your risk, avoid exposure to chemicals such as herbicides, pesticides and benzene. If you have celiac disease (gluten intolerance), maintain your gluten-free diet.
New Targeted Therapy Treatments for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
Monoclonal antibodies, a targeted therapy, uses laboratory-made proteins to treat Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Antibodies attach to a target on cancer cells and either kill them, block their growth, or stop them from spreading.
Usually, doctors say that lymphoma has relapsed if it returns after successful treatment. This means that you have had a remission (no evidence of lymphoma on tests and scans) that lasts for at least 6 months after treatment. Relapse can happen if there are lymphoma cells left in your body after treatment.
Common symptoms of having lymphoma include swelling of lymph nodes in your neck, in your armpits or your groin. This is often but not always painless and often could be associated with fevers, or unexplained weight loss, or drenching night sweats, sometimes chills, persistent fatigue.
Diffuse large B cell lymphoma
This fast-growing lymphoma accounts for about one third of NHL cases. For this lymphoma, it is typical for lymph nodes to double in size every month, and patients often present within a few months of having noted an enlarged lymph node.
"About half of all patients can put off treatment for at least 3 years," Abetti says. "Some patients can be in watch-and-wait mode for 10 years or more." It's possible you'll never need treatment. There's no way to know for sure if you'll eventually need treatment.