Lymphoma Survival Rate

What Is Lymphoma?

Lymphoma is a type of cancer that begins in cells that are a part of the body’s immune system [¹]. In short, it's a type of cancer that starts in your lymphatic system. The lymphatic system protects your body from disease and infection.

Your lymph nodes are the first line of defense against infection. They have white blood cells (lymphocytes), which multiply in response to infection. B-cells produce antibodies, while T-cells destroy unhealthy cells.

This cancer develops when one of your white blood cells undergoes a transformation. This transformation turns them into fast-growing cancer cells that do not die. These cancer cells can spread to your lymph nodes or other organs, such as your liver, bone marrow, or spleen.

Types of Lymphoma

Generally, there are two types of Lymphoma:

Non-Hodgkin
Hodgkin

But, there are many more subtypes within these two categories. According to scientists, there are over 90 subtypes of this disease [²].

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) develops in the lymph nodes and lymphatic tissue in:

The intestines
Stomach
Skin

In rare cases, it can involve the blood and bone marrow.

Unfortunately, NHL isn’t a single disease. It consists of a diverse group of blood cancers arising from lymphocytes. Furthermore, lymphoma cells can also develop in many sites of the body. But enough research has found that it mostly develops in one spot [³].

This type of Lymphoma has different subtypes within itself. They can either be slow-growing/indolent or fast-growing/aggressive.

Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is a rare cancer that begins in your lymphatic system [⁴]. B-lymphocytes (a kind of lymphocyte) begin to multiply abnormally in Hodgkin lymphoma. They also begin to accumulate in certain regions of the lymphatic system.

These regions are usually lymph nodes (glands). The affected lymphocytes lose their ability to fight infection. As a result, you become more susceptible to it.

What Are the Signs And Symptoms of Lymphoma?

While there are common signs and symptoms of Lymphoma, they can also have other causes. Having one symptom or more does not necessarily show that you have Lymphoma. Here are the signs and symptoms of this disease to be wary of [⁵]:

Your lymph nodes are swollen

Lumps can be the most common signs of Lymphoma. You will usually spot them in the groin, armpit, or neck. These lumps indicate swollen lymph nodes. But, they are painless.

You’ve experienced sudden or unexplained weight loss

Lymphoma can cause you to lose a lot of weight quickly. It is a common symptom, but it doesn't always have to be a sign of Lymphoma.

You’re more fatigued than usual.

Being tired is not the same as feeling fatigued. The latter means you’re experiencing exhaustion but for no clear reason. You may also feel completely drained after doing very little.

You're drenched in sweat at night.

Sweats can occur for many reasons and at many times of the day. But, they usually occur at night for those with Lymphoma. The sweating can sometimes be very intense. It may even turn your bed sheets or nightclothes soaking wet.

You have frequent infections.

Infections can be due to many reasons. But with Lymphoma, you have a harder time getting rid of them.

You experience fever with weight loss and night sweats

Fevers can occur with weight loss and night sweats. But they can also occur on their own. They are a sign of infection, but only if there is no other apparent cause.

There's itching without a rash.

Frequent itching without a rash can be a lymphoma symptom. It gets uncomfortable when you’re hot.

Lymphoma Diagnosis and Staging

Diagnosis and staging of Lymphoma are essential in the recovery and treatment process. In fact, an earlier diagnosis can lead to better treatment. It can also lead to the timely management of the disease.

How is Lymphoma Diagnosed?

Specialists use various tools to diagnose Lymphoma. Some of them include [⁶]:

Physical examination: During this, the healthcare professionals will inquire about your symptoms. They will also ask how long the symptoms have lasted and your medical history. They'll also look for signs of pale skin, swollen lymph nodes, and an enlarged liver.
Blood tests: Your doctor may recommend different blood tests based on your symptoms. They usually recommend a complete blood count. They may also recommend the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, Lactate dehydrogenase, and other tests.
Bone marrow biopsy: A bone marrow biopsy examines the cells in the bone marrow. A specialist performs it with a long needle to extract a small bone marrow sample from the hip bone. Then, a laboratory's expert pathologists check the cells for Lymphoma.
Imaging tests: Imaging tests help establish how far Lymphoma has spread. The testing can find infections or other issues. Examples of imaging tests include:

X-rays
Computed tomography (CT)
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Ultrasound
Positron emission tomography (PET)

Lymph node biopsy: It helps look for lymphoma-causing cells in the lymphatic system. A lymph node is partially or completely removed by a specialist for testing. The technique is not that difficult. This is because many lymph nodes are near the skin's surface. Under a microscope, pathologists with expertise in blood cancers examine the tissue. They then determine your Lymphoma type and whether it exists.

Lymphoma Staging

Both Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphomas stage similarly in adulthood. Lymphoma has four main stages [7]:

Stage 1 lymphoma only affects one group of lymph nodes. These can be anywhere in the body, either above or below the diaphragm.

Stage 1E denotes that it has spread only to one organ of the body outside the lymphatic system (such as the liver). The term for this is extranodal Lymphoma.

Stage 2 Lymphoma is when the cancer is in two or more lymph node groups. These can occur in any part of the body. They must be on the same side of the diaphragm for a stage 2 diagnosis.

Stage 2E indicates that the Lymphoma began in one body organ (other than the lymphatic system). But it has now spread to one or more groups of lymph nodes. All these must be on the same side of the diaphragm.

Stage 3 of Lymphoma entails that there are lymph nodes containing the cancer. They are on both sides of the diaphragm.

Stage 4 is the most advanced lymphoma stage. Advanced Lymphoma is Lymphoma that begins in the lymph nodes. But then it spreads to at least one organ outside the lymphatic system. They could include:

The liver
Lungs
Bone marrow, or solid bones

The spleen and thymus are components of the lymphatic system. Hence, Lymphoma that affects those organs is not considered stage 4.

Is Lymphoma Hereditary?

The “hereditary” status of a disease indicates that it comes from DNA mutations. Sometimes, there can also be a family history of Lymphoma. It may increase your risk of getting it. But non-Hodgkin lymphoma gene changes occur during life [⁸].

Lymphoma Survival Rate

The survival rates vary for different types and stages of the disease.

What is the Survival Rate for Lymphoma?

The 5-year survival rate for those with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma is 74% [⁹]. People with Hodgkin Lymphoma have a survival rate of 95%.

Survival According to Staging

The survival probabilities are calculated according to staging. But, the four stages of Lymphoma are further divided into the following categories:

Localized
Regional
Distant

Here are the survival rates for people with HL:

People with localized Hodgkin Lymphoma have a 93% 5-year survival rate.
People with regional Hodgkin Lymphoma have a 95% 5-year survival rate.
People with distant Lymphoma have an 83% 5-year survival rate.

Here are the survival rates for people with NHL [¹⁰]:

People with localized Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma have a 73% 5-year survival rate.
People with regional Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma have a 74% 5-year survival rate.
People with distant Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma have a 58% 5-year survival rate.

The findings conclude that stages are important in the survival rate and prognosis. People with localized Lymphoma have a better chance of survival. Those with distant Lymphoma may have lower chances of survival.

It’s also important to consider factors other than the stage. They can affect the prognosis just as much as staging. Patients generally have a good prognosis if:

They are 60 or younger
They have early-stage Lymphoma that hasn't spread too far
They have a normal serum lactate dehydrogenase

Patients have a poor prognosis if:

They are older than 60
They have stage 3 or 4 lymphoma
Their lactate dehydrogenase serum is high

Lymphoma Treatment Options

Despite conflicting prognosis research, there are treatments available. Depending on their unique symptoms, various individuals receive a variety of therapies. The therapies depend on the following:

Your medical background
The stage of the disease
Allergies
Personal preference.

Treatment Types

Treatment types include;

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy uses certain medications to kill growing cancer cells. Your doctor will either give it to you as a tablet or through a vein.

Active Surveillance

Some lymphoma types progress very slowly. When lymphoma symptoms interfere with your regular activities, your doctor may postpone treatment. You might have tests every so often to keep an eye on your health till then.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy kills cancer cells by delivering high-energy beams such as:

X-rays
Protons

Bone Marrow Transplant

The specialist uses high doses of chemotherapy and radiation during this treatment. They do it to suppress your bone marrow. Then, either from your own body or from a donor, they inject healthy bone marrow stem cells into your blood. These healthy cells go to your bones and regenerate your bone marrow.

Clinical Trials for Lymphoma

The Experimental Cancer Vaccine, 2019 [11]:

Upon the trial's completion, researchers developed a vaccine for lymphoma patients. They administered this vaccine to 11 patients with Lymphoma. The study took place at Mount Sinai Hospital.

Due to the success of this trial, they also planned on carrying out another one. This time, they decided to expand it to patients with neck and head cancers.

The lead author of the paper, Joshua Brody, stated that the treatment could treat a wide variety of cancers. He also said that this method could lead to better success of other immunotherapies too.

New Drug Combination for Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma, 2021 [12]:

A study by Rochester University had 879 individuals. These individuals had diffuse large B cell lymphoma. For over 2 decades, these patients received a regimen called “R-CHOP.” But it didn’t cure more than two-thirds of the people.

This double-blind, placebo-controlled study involved testing a different drug combination to substitute a targeted therapy. Half of the patients in the study received this new combination, and data showed that they experienced a 27% reduction in:

Lymphoma relapsing
Progressing
Risks leading to death

A key researcher, Friedberg, also assured that the safety profile of the study was similar to R-CHOP.

Conclusion

Takeaway

The diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis for Lymphoma vary from person to person.

The information provided in this guide is merely a starting point for individuals who wish to learn more about the disease. It’s important that you discuss any concerns with your doctor before reaching conclusions about your symptoms.

Fortunately, early-stage Lymphoma is not aggressive. So, there's always a treatment option to consider. Clinical trials have also been successful over the years. A patient's chances of survival are much better today than they were a few years ago.