Long-term survival with Hodgkin lymphoma is hard to estimate due to conditions like secondary cancers that may occur decades after treatment. However, between 15 years and 30 years after Hodgkin lymphoma treatment, people are more likely to die from an unrelated cause than from Hodgkin lymphoma.
The 20-year actuarial rates of survival were 78%, 78%, and 46%, respectively, for patients aged 16 or less, 17 to 39, and 40 years or older at 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. In this section, you'll find information to help you live well with and beyond lymphoma.
around 80 out of 100 (around 80%) will survive their lymphoma for 5 years or more after diagnosis.
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%.
Many people with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) are cured. But your doctor cannot know straight away whether your lymphoma will come back or not. If your NHL comes back after treatment, your doctor might still be able to cure it.
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.
More specifically half the recurrences happen within 2 years of primary treatment and up to 90% occur before 5 years. Occurrence of a relapse after 10 years is rare and after 15 years the risk of developing lymphoma is same as its risk in the normal population.
Some people with Hodgkin lymphoma or with other types of high-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma might also relapse. Most relapses of Hodgkin lymphoma or high-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma happen within the first 2 years after treatment. As time goes on, relapse generally becomes less likely.
It nearly always comes back or starts to grow again at some point after treatment. You can have further treatment to control the lymphoma. This can often keep people feeling well for long periods of time. If lymphoma comes back, it might be in the same area where it was before.
There are also instances where the person with lymphoma decides they do not wish to have any more treatment. From the point of diagnosis onwards, you should be offered symptom and pain relief. This is known as 'palliative care' and it is separate to active treatment given to treat your lymphoma.
Lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma or Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia.
This is a rare, slow-growing type of lymphoma. It's found mainly in the bone marrow, lymph nodes, and spleen. This type of lymphoma can't be cured.
Hodgkin lymphoma affects both children and adults. In the United States, it is most common in 2 age groups. The first group is people in early adulthood, particularly people in their 20s. The second group is people older than 55.
Lymphoma is often curable, especially in its initial stages.
What Causes Lymphoma? Non-Hodgkin lymphoma becomes more common as people get older. Unlike most cancers, rates of Hodgkin lymphoma are highest among teens and young adults (ages 15 to 39 years) and again among older adults (ages 75 years or older).
For some people, treatment can cure Hodgkin lymphoma that comes back. Even if your lymphoma can't be cured, you will be able to have treatment to shrink the enlarged lymph nodes.
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.
All survivors of NHL have a higher risk of developing a secondary cancer. This increased risk continues for up to 20 years after treatment. The most common secondary cancers include cancer of the lung, brain, kidney, or bladder; melanoma; Hodgkin lymphoma; or leukemia.
Some survivors of Hodgkin lymphoma have a higher risk of developing a secondary cancer, especially acute myeloid leukemia (after certain types of chemotherapy, like BEACOPP), non-Hodgkin lymphoma, lung cancer, or breast cancer.
Many people with low-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma have full or partial remission that lasts for many months or even years after treatment for lymphoma. Most of these people have different treatments over time. This is because it usually comes back (relapses) or worsens at some point, and then needs further treatment.
Stage 2. Around 90 out of 100 people (around 90%) will survive their Hodgkin lymphoma for 5 years or more after diagnosis.
Burkitt lymphoma: Considered the most aggressive form of lymphoma, this disease is one of the fastest growing of all cancers.
Stage 4. 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.