Understanding the stage of lymph cancer (lymphoma)

When you are diagnosed with lymphoma or lymphoma, your doctor will tell you the stage of your cancer. Staging is a way to find out the spread of cancer cells and your condition. Knowing the stage of the cancer can help the doctor to plan the right lymphoma treatment. Then, what is the explanation of each stage of lymphoma or lymphoma from the initial or 1 to the late or 4?

Determine the stage of lymph cancer or lymphoma

Lymphoma or lymphoma is a type of blood cancer that starts in the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is spread throughout the body which includes lymph nodes, spleen, thymus, bone marrow, and others, which play a role in the immune system.

From one network of the lymphatic system, lymphoma cancer cells can spread to other areas or even other organs of the body. How severe the spread is described by stages.

Reporting from Lymphoma Action, the lymphoma staging system for all types, both Hodgkin's lymphoma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, is generally the same, except for certain types, such as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in children.

This staging uses the Lugano classification, which is based on the Ann Arbor system. Based on this system, the stage of lymphoma or lymphoma is divided into four stages, namely 1, 2, 3, and 4, which are generally written in Roman numerals, from I to IV. The higher the number, the worse your lymphoma will be.

Extranodal Lymphoma

Some stages of lymphoma cancer may be accompanied by the letter E, which stands for extranodal. If the stage number is accompanied by the letter E, it means that lymphoma cancer cells start in organs that are not part of the lymphatic system, such as in the digestive system or in the salivary glands.

Based on symptoms

In addition to the spread of cancer cells, the stage of lymphoma is also determined based on the symptoms of lymph node cancer that appears. This condition is described by adding the letters A and B after the cancer stage number.

The letter B is added (for example stage IIIB) if a person has the following symptoms:

• Lose more than 10 percent of body weight during the previous 6 months (without dieting).
• A persistent fever, around 38 degrees Celsius or more, that comes and goes, especially at night.
• Night sweats.

If no B symptoms appear, the letter A is added after the stage, such as IIIA. someone with stage B lymphoma cancer usually requires more intensive care.

Bulky disease

In addition to the letters E, A, and B, the stage number may also be accompanied by the letter X. This means that one or more of the affected lymph nodes have swelling or a large tumor, which reaches about 10 cm.

This condition can also occur in the chest area where the tumor reaches 1/3 the width of the chest. In this condition, the patient usually requires more intensive care.

Understand the stages of lymph node cancer

Based on these provisions, the following is an explanation of the lymph node cancer stages, from 1 to 4, which you need to know:

Stage I

Stage 1 (I) lymphoma is an early stage in lymphoma. In both Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, this stage 1 describes cancer cells found in only one lymph node or lymphoid organ, such as the thymus.

Cancer cells can start in the lymph nodes in the neck area or in any area, either above or below the diaphragm (the sheet of muscle that separates the chest and abdomen).

IE Stadium

If you have stage IE, it means that lymphoma cancer cells start in one organ that is outside the lymphatic system, and only in that organ.

In stage 1 lymphoma cancer, the treatment given is generally chemotherapy, which can consist of 2 to 4 cycles. You may also need radiotherapy. Consult your doctor for the right type of treatment.

Stage II

In stage 2 (II) lymphoma, cancer cells attack two or more groups of lymph nodes. These cancer cells can start in any area, but occur on the same side of the diaphragm.

For example, both at the top of the diaphragm (armpit and neck) or both at the bottom of the diaphragm (groin), and not a combination of the two, such as lymph nodes in the armpit and groin.

Stage IIE

If you have stage IIE, it means that the lymphoma cancer cells you have started in one organ of the body (not the lymphatic system) and are also in one or more groups of nearby lymph nodes. This also occurs on one side of the same diaphragm.

In stage 2 lymph node cancer, the treatment given is generally in the form of chemotherapy which consists of 2 to 4 cycles. You may also need to undergo radiotherapy, according to your condition.

Stage III

Lymphoma stage 3 (III) is an advanced stage of lymphoma. This stage means the cancer cells have affected the lymph nodes on both sides of the diaphragm, both above and below, including the spleen.

At this stage, the treatment given is generally in the form of chemotherapy, which consists of 6 to 8 cycles. Radiotherapy may also be given to some patients.

Stage IV

Lymphoma cancer or stage 4 lymphoma is the final stage of this disease. At this stage, cancer cells begin in the lymph nodes and have spread to one or more organs outside the lymphatic system, such as the lungs, bones, liver, and bone marrow.

It should be noted, the spleen and thymus are organs that are part of the lymphatic system. Therefore, cancer cells that have just spread to these organs are not classified as stage 4 lymphoma cancer.

Cancer that has reached an advanced stage can already be categorized as severe. However, unlike other types of cancer, advanced lymphoma, namely 3 and 4, may be successfully treated and controlled. Some patients have the possibility of recovery. However, this depends on the type of lymphoma you have.

The treatment that is generally given to stage 4 lymphoma is 6 to 8 cycles of chemotherapy. You may also need to undergo radiotherapy, according to your condition.