Staging Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma [16]

Staging is the process of finding out how far the cancer has spread. This process is very important because the stage of your cancer will determine your treatment. Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma tends to be widespread, although the slower-growing types may be confined to one place.

In order to stage this cancer, your doctor will take into account the results of the following:

• physical exam
• blood tests
• imaging tests (x-rays, CT scans, MRIs, etc)
• biopsy of the tumor and bone marrow
• lumbar puncture or spinal tap (if necessary)

Doctors will typically use a staging system known as the Ann Arbor staging system to describe the stage of your cancer. The stages are described by Roman numerals I through IV (1 through 4). In general, the higher the number, the more serious the cancer.

Stage I: The lymphoma is typically in either 1 lymph node or localized to various lymph nodes in the same body region such as the neck, groin, underarm.

Stage II: The lymphoma has spread to 2 or more groups of lymph nodes on the same side, either above or below, the diaphragm (breathing muscle separating the chest and abdomen). An example of this would be lymphoma affecting the neck and underarm lymph nodes.

Stage III: The lymphoma has spread to lymph nodes on both sides of (above and below) the diaphragm.

Stage IV: The lymphoma has spread beyond the lymph system into an organ or organs.

The letter “E” is added to the stage of the disease for cancers that affect organs outside the lymphatic system. The letter “B” is added if the person has B symptoms such as unexplained weight loss, soaking night sweats, or high fever from no known cause. If the person does not have these symptoms, the letter “A” is added.

To learn more, visit the American Cancer Society Web site at www.cancer.org.

Next -> Treating Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma