Well you now have the diagnosis of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. This isn’t where it ends and treatment begins, I’m sad to say. There are lots more tests you need to have to correctly identify the grading and stages of NHL. This ensures that the best treatment can be diagnosed for you for YOUR type of NHL.
Mine is a Large B Cell Primary Bone Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (Stage 4a). Apparently when it is in the bone it’s quite rare and after much research on the internet, it is true! Varies from 1% to 3% of the population with NHL. Trust me huh!
Describes how far the NHL has spread from it’s original site. Most stages are from I through to IV. There are several different systems used to stage NHL, ask your oncologist and/or consultant which was used to assess the spread and effects of your disease.
Describes how aggresive the tumour is. Grades for NHL’s are low, intermediate, or high grade; although many intermediate and high-grade diseases are combined in the discussion of treatment.
Stage I designates diseases in a single lymph node or lymph node region, or localised involvement of just one extranodal site, such as the spleen, which is designated as stage IE.
Stage II designates disease in two or more lymph node regions on the same side of the diaphragm.
Stage IIE is local disease in a single extranodal site, such as the lung, including its regional lymph nodes, with or without affecting other lymph node regions on the same side of the diaphragm. The number of nearby lymph node regions affected may be indicated by an appended number, such as II3.
Stage III means that lymph node regions on both sides of the diaphragm are affected. Disease also may be accompanied by local involvement of an extra-nodel organ, or site, such as the liver, or by involvement of the spleen (IIIS) or both (IIIS+E).
Stage IV means widely spread, multiple involvement at one or more extra-lymphatic sites such as the bone marrow, with or without associated lymph node involvement, or involvement of an isolated extranodal organ with distant nodal involvement.