Stage 4 lymphoma means that cancer has spread to an organ external to the lymphatic system. The survival rates vary widely depending on an individual's risk factors and type of cancer. The survival rate of stage 4 lymphoma is lower than that of the other stages, but doctors can cure the condition in some cases.
Stage III-IV lymphomas are common, still very treatable, and often curable, depending on the NHL subtype. Stage III and stage IV are now considered a single category because they have the same treatment and prognosis.
Stage 4 is the most advanced stage of lymphoma. Lymphoma that has started in the lymph nodes and spread to at least one body organ outside the lymphatic system (for example, the lungs, liver, bone marrow or solid bones) is advanced lymphoma.
The changes can be gradual, but crises can develop. People with NHL most often die from infections, bleeding or organ failure resulting from metastases. A serious infection or sudden bleeding can quickly lead to death, even if someone doesn't appear very ill.
Stage 4 lymphoma is treatable. Aggressive rounds of chemotherapy are often given as a first-line treatment for lymphoma at this stage. The five-year relative survival rate for stage 4 lymphoma varies and ranges from 57% to 86% based on the type you have.
Palliative care can mean anything from the management of lymphoma symptoms like itch or pain, to managing treatment side effects, or simply providing a source of psychological support and helping you navigate the healthcare system and find resources to support you.
Lymphoma isn't usually painful but sometimes, swollen nodes press on other tissues and nerves which can cause pain. Lymphoma in the bone itself (rather than in the bone marrow) is rare but when it does happen, it can cause pain in the affected bone.
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%.
Stage 4 lymphoma means that cancer has spread to an organ external to the lymphatic system. The survival rates vary widely depending on an individual's risk factors and type of cancer. The survival rate of stage 4 lymphoma is lower than that of the other stages, but doctors can cure the condition in some cases.
Stage 4 means one of the following: your lymphoma is in an extranodal site and lymph nodes are affected. your lymphoma is in more than one extranodal site, for example the liver, bones or lungs.
In practice, most people with high grade NHL have treatment as if it is an advanced cancer. This usually means quite intensive chemotherapy treatment with 3 or 4 different drugs, over 6 to 8 months. You have some or all of these drugs into your bloodsteam.
With lymphoma, the lymph nodes often grow slowly and may be there for months or years before they're noticed. But sometimes they grow very quickly. Usually, the swollen nodes don't hurt. But some people say their lumps ache or are painful.
Skin reactions are common. Chemotherapy kills cells that multiply quickly, such as lymphoma cells. It also causes damage to fast-growing normal cells, including hair cells and cells that make up the tissues in your mouth, gut and bone marrow. The side effects of chemotherapy occur as a result of this damage.
Stage 4. More than 70 out of 100 people (more than 70%) will survive their Hodgkin lymphoma for 5 years or more after being diagnosed. These statistics are for net survival.
Aggressive lymphoma, also known as high-grade lymphoma, is a group of fast growing non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Some common symptoms for aggressive lymphoma are weight loss, night sweats, nausea and recurrent fevers. Since these tumors are fast to grow and spread, immediate intervention is required after diagnosis.
Persistent fatigue, lethargy, weakness. Loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting. Abdominal pain or swelling, or a feeling of fullness. Skin rash or itchy skin.
For most cancers where palliative chemotherapy is used, this number ranges from 3-12 months. The longer the response, the longer you can expect to live.
How is stage 4 lymphoma treated? For the most common type of NHL, treatment at stage 4 typically begins with a chemotherapy regimen known as R-CHOP, given in 6 cycles. This involves the monoclonal antibody Rituxan, along with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone.
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.
Some patients with primary hepatic lymphoma can develop acute liver failure, which carries a significant risk of mortality. Tumor bleeding and hematological spread to other locoregional lymph nodes have also been documented.
Diffuse large b cell lymphoma stage 4 survival rate for 5 years by stage according to SEER: Localized: 73% Regional: 73% Distant: 57%