Stadiums

The stages of lymph gland cancer are classified according to Ann-Arbor in 4 stages. If only lymph nodes are affected, stages I-III are given the designation N. If other regions outside the lymph nodes are affected, E (for Extranodal) is added to the stage. In addition, the presence of B symptoms can be indicated with a B, while the absence of these symptoms is marked with an A.

There is an infestation of a lymph node region or an infestation of an adjacent region outside the lymph nodes (extranodal infestation). In this case, the spleen would also belong to a lymph node region, since it is one of the organs of the immune system just like the lymph nodes. Neighboring regions could be the chest wall, the pericardium or the lungs, for example.

An extranodal infestation is caused by the lymph gland cancer migrating to neighboring structures. It is important to differentiate whether the region outside the lymph nodes is affected due to neighboring relationships to the lymph nodes or whether it is spread over longer distances. In the second case, one would automatically speak of a stage IV.

In stage II, two or more lymph node regions or adjacent regions outside the lymph nodes are affected. These are located either above or below the diaphragm. In stage II, for example, lymph nodes in the armpit and neck or in the groin and abdomen are affected.

In stage III, two or more lymph node regions or other adjacent regions outside the lymph nodes are also affected. Here, the affected foci are located above AND below the diaphragm. In stage four, independent of the lymph nodes, at least one organ is affected by lymph gland cancer that is not part of the immune system. This means that, for example, a single infestation of the liver immediately leads to stage IV, regardless of whether the lymph nodes are also abnormal or not.

Chances of recovery

In Hodgkin’s lymphoma, curative therapy is applied in all stages, which means that the goal of therapy in all stages is to cure the disease. Therefore, the chances of cure are good for this subgroup. Should the lymph gland cancer reappear after the therapy is completed (recurrence), the chances of recovery change.

These recurrences often occur within the first five years after the initial treatment has been completed. It can therefore be summarized that a relapse has a higher chance of recovery if it occurs late.

In case of a relapse within the first three months, the chance of recovery is only about 20%.
In case of a relapse after the first three months, the chance of recovery is about 30%.
In the case of even later recurrences, the chance of recovery is even about 50%.

In the group of non-Hodgkin lymphomas, the picture is somewhat more heterogeneous.

Here one must distinguish whether the type of lymph gland cancer is highly malignant, i.e. fast growing, or a slow growing low malignant subspecies. With the low-malignant subspecies, healing can only take place in the early stages. Because the growth rate is very low, chemotherapy is not as effective.

Thus, in later stages of the low malignant subgroup there is hardly any chance of a cure and is not considered a therapeutic goal. However, with modern therapy concepts, a lifespan of decades can be achieved. Highly malignant non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas grow much faster than their counterparts and are therefore easily treatable with chemotherapy. In the early stages, a cure can be assumed. In late stages, the chances of cure are about 60%.