Lymphoma Survival Rates

Survival Rates of Lymphoma

There are two different kinds of lymphoma, Hodgkin’s lymphoma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma or NHL. Lymphoma survival rates are based on both of these types. In the case of Hodgkin’s lymphoma the altered cancer cell called the Reed-Sternberg cell is involved. The patients who suffer from this are usually adolescents, and those over 50. Hodgkin’s disease strikes more men than women. The lymphoma survival rate for this disease is considered high. This is after conducting studies of those who have survived for more than five years after being diagnosed.

In spite of the fact that this cancer is extremely aggressive, there are many treatment options that are available. This increases the survival rate of the patients who have Hodgkin’s disease. Lacking the Reed-Sternberg cell is non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. However, NHL is extremely aggressive and considered high grade. A staggering ninety percent of the patients who suffer from this disease are age 60 and above. The five year survival rate for these patients is 63% and the ten year survival rate is 51%. Follicular lymphoma is the most often diagnosed type of NHL. The earlier the detection of lymphoma, the faster the treatments can be started and this is the key to a high survival rate.

The warning symptoms of NHL are inflamation of the lymph nodes in the arm pits, neck and groin. Sometimes they are noticed while bathing. These are usually painless unless the NHL is advanced. Rapid weight loss is another symptom that is quickly noticed up to twenty pounds in only a couple of weeks. There are other symptoms as well such as fever, massive night sweats, loss of appetite and lethargy. If the lymphomas have grown in size, a blockage of vessels occurs. This leads to patients having trouble breathing. If lymphoma has spread to the brain, constant headaches occur. If the growths are located in the stomach, abdominal cramps can occur.

The incidence of NHL cases are rising as the population ages and this will greatly influence the lymphoma survival rates. But along with the rising numbers of cases, there is also continuing advances in early diagnoses and treatment. Stem cell replacement therapy is very new but has shown promise in the treatment of lymphoma. This is done before chemotherapy takes place and increases the success of treatment. These stem cells are located in the bone marrow. The cells are harvested in various ways. They can be taken directly from the blood, from the bone marrow itself or from umbilical cords (this has been a subject of heavy controversy among many).

But regardless of what treatment is decided upon by the doctor, there is one point that all doctors agree on. Early detection is vital in treatment success rates. If the cancer is in stage III or IV the lymphoma survival rates takes a serious dive downwards. This is why so many doctors emphasize the importance of self exams to find the swollen nodes so that they may be reported as soon as possible. This will raise the numbers considerably of the lymphoma survival rates.