lymphoma cancer stages | Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma Steps

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma Steps

Staging is the process of knowing how far the lymphoma is spread in the lymphatic system or other parts of the body. This is very important because your treatment and prognosis (prospects for your recovery) depend to a large extent on the stage of your cancer. Accurate staging allows doctors to choose the most appropriate treatment and can help you avoid ineffective treatment.

The steps of Hodgkin's Lymphoma
The same tests of doctors use to diagnose non Hodgkinien's lymphoma are used to determine the type and the stage. Hodgkin's lymphomas are considered to be at one of four stages.

Step I: Lymphoma is in a single region or a ganglionic organ.
Phase II: Lymphoma is divided into two or more ganglion groups, either above or below the diaphragm (the thin muscle under the lungs that separates the thorax from the abdomen).
Step III: Lymphoma is in several ganglion areas above and below the diaphragm.
Step IV: Lymphoma is widespread in lymph nodes and other organs, such as bone marrow, lungs and liver.
Doctors can add a letter after your step to describe more about your illness.

E (such as "Stade III") means that your cancer is extranodal (outside your lymph nodes).
S (for example, "IIIS stage") means that the cancer is detected in the spleen.
There is no standard staging system for Waldenstrom's Waldenstrom, a subtype of Hodgkin's lymphoma.

If the lymphoma returns after the treatment, it is called recurrent or relapse. Your doctor will prescribe you imaging or other tests to restart it.

Typically lymphomas that are confined to a part of the body (localized) when it is recognized are easier to treat than those that have spread to other parts of the body (generalized).