Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma - Stages of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Stages of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

The stage of your lymphoma describes how far it has spread. There are four stages. The higher your stage, the further your cancer has spread.

Here is what the stages mean.

Source:
O'Reilly SE, Connors JM.
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: characterisation and treatment.
BMJ. 1992; 304: 1682-1686.

Source:
Sobin LH, Wittekind CH.
TNM: classification of malignant tumours.
In: International union against cancer. 5th Edition. Wiley-Liss, New York, US; 1997.

Source:
American Cancer Society.
After the tests: Staging (Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma).
Available at http://www.cancer.org (accessed on 16 January 2008).

Stage 1. You have only one tumor or lump, probably in a

lymph nodes
Lymph nodes (also called glands) are small, bean-shaped lumps that you cannot usually see or easily feel. They are located in various parts of the body, such as the neck, armpit and groin. Lymph nodes filter the lymph fluid and remove unusual things, such as bacteria and cancer cells.

lymph node. There's no sign that the cancer has spread outside the lymph node.
Stage 2. You have cancer in two or more lymph nodes. The lymph nodes are in different places but are in the same half of your body: the upper half (your head, neck and chest) or the lower half (anywhere below your chest). Your lymphoma is also stage 2 if it has spread slightly to the area around the cancerous lymph node.
Stage 3. You have cancer in the upper half and the lower half of your body. For example, you have cancer in a lymph node in your groin and in a lymph node in your neck.
Stage 4. You have widespread lymphoma anywhere outside your lymph nodes. For example, you have cancer in your gut, breast,

thyroid gland
Your thyroid gland is a small organ that sits in your neck, just in front of your windpipe. It sends out a hormone called thyroxine. This acts on receptors within cells. By acting on the receptors it gives the cells a message to speed up their metabolism and work harder.

thyroid gland or bone marrow.

Stage 1 and stage 2 lymphomas are called early lymphomas.

Stage 3 and stage 4 lymphomas are called advanced lymphomas.

Very big lymphomas are usually treated as advanced, wherever they are. There are good treatments that work for both early and advanced lymphomas. See What treatments work for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma?

Your stage can also include the letters B, A or E.

B means you have night sweats, have a high temperature, or are losing weight.
A means you have none of these problems.
E means your lymphoma started outside your lymph nodes. For example, it might have started in your stomach or breast.

Sources for the information on this page:

O'Reilly SE, Connors JM.Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: characterisation and treatment.BMJ. 1992; 304: 1682-1686.

Sobin LH, Wittekind CH.TNM: classification of malignant tumours.In: International union against cancer. 5th Edition. Wiley-Liss, New York, US; 1997.

American Cancer Society.After the tests: Staging (Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma).Available at http://www.cancer.org (accessed on 16 January 2008).

This information was last updated on Jan 08, 2009

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