Lymphoma Survival Rate

Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system. The malignancy is often found in the T-Cells and B-Cells, the types of lymphocytes responsible for fighting and remembering pathogens that enter the body. Lymphoma is differentiated as Hodgkin’s and Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Among other types of cancer, lymphoma survival rate is quite high for it is one of the most curable cancers in the world.

Each type and subtype has different lymphoma survival rates. Advancement in medicine and technology with the help of countless research has helped increase the chances for survival in lymphoma. The survival rate is based on how many people with lymphoma will survive 5 years after diagnosis. For ease of understanding, the lymphoma survival rates to be discussed will be of Hodgkin’s and Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma separately.

For Hodgkin’s lymphoma, relative 5-year lymphoma survival rate during 1999-2005 is 91.8%. The age of the patients in this statistical analysis is about 45 years old.    5-year relative survival rate for patients under 20 years of age is 95.5%, while a 5-year relative lymphoma survival rate of 95.4% is seen in patients aged 14 years old and bellow. As of 2009, around 148,461 people are coping with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, either in active disease state or in remission. According the American Cancer Society, the relative 5-year lymphoma survival rate for Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is around 63%. There are about 452,723 people living with Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The survival rate is quite low compared to Hodgkin’s lymphoma for the indolent or slow-growing types of Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma are commonly diagnosed when it is already in the advanced or terminal stage.

The prognosis for lymphoma, especially those with B-Cell lymphomas of the aggressive type depends on the following:  

Ø Age – patients aged 60 and above who are diagnosed with lymphoma usually have other medical conditions that can complicate lymphoma and interfere with treatment. 

Ø Stage – lymphoma survival rate is poor when the disease is diagnosed at stage III or IV. 

Ø State of Metastasis – malignancy that has spread in more than just one lymph node and into distal body parts in relation to the origin of the malignancy presents poor prognosis of the disease. 

Ø LDH – elevated LDH can also affect the prognosis of lymphoma. 

Ø Level of activity – if the patient diagnosed with lymphoma is unable to handle the stress of the treatment, or cannot take care of himself properly during the progression of the disease, prognosis is quite poor. 

Lymphoma survival rate is highly dependent on when the disease was diagnosed and the adequacy of treatment given in consideration to the stage and rate of growth of the malignancy. It is important that you keep up with your treatment regimen and doctor’s appointment to monitor your progress.