Chances of a cure for lymph gland cancer
introduction
The chance of a cure for a lymph gland cancer is generally relatively good. However, it is also dependent on many factors and cannot be determined that easily.
The values given here for the chances of recovery are only guidelines!
It is important Age of the patient and his Comorbidities. This also continues to play Disease stagein which the patient is located, as well as the Response to therapy a major role.
Chances of recovery
The chance of a cure for lymph gland cancer is depends on many factors and cannot be determined that easily. It is important Age of the patient and his Comorbidities. Also in which one Disease stage the patient is and how well he responds to the started Treatment responds.
In order to indicate the chances of recovery from lymph gland cancer, one must first choose between the so-called Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. With Hodgkin's lymphoma, curative therapy is possible in all stages, but unfortunately this is not always the case with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
In the case of non-Hodgkin lymphomas one differentiates aggressive and non-aggressive forms.
The aggressive lymphoid cancers grow very quicklythat means the cancer cells often divide. This sounds bad at first, but it is thanks to this fact that there is a Chemotherapy is very successful. Is the cancer If the therapy is not at an advanced stage, the chances of recovery, of up to over 90%, can be achieved.
Both non-aggressive forms of lymph gland cancer is that Tumor growth rather slow, there are fewer symptoms and the course is more gradual. Unfortunately, the slow growth of cancer cells means that chemotherapy does not work well, so these forms mostly incurable in the sense of killing all cancer cells are. However, since the course is very slow, the chances of survival are not bad here either.
Chances of recovery according to stages
The stage at which the lymph gland cancer is diagnosed and treated is crucial. The general rule here is: the sooner the better. In addition, each patient has their own individual chances of recovery - depending, for example, on age and general physical condition. Purely statistical percentage values cannot always be applied to all patients.
The chances of recovery in the individual tumor stages are described below.
Stage 1
If one speaks of stage 1 of a lymph gland cancer, one means that only one lymph node region in the body is affected. It is also said that the cancer is 'localized'. When it comes to therapy, this is where radiotherapy in the foreground. Here the affected lymph nodes are irradiated and the cancer is fought. Is there a so-called aggressive ("highly malignant") non-Hodgkin lymphoma before, an chemotherapy carried out. A Hodgkin's disease is treated with chemotherapy alone.
In early stage 1, the chances of a cure in all types of lymph gland cancer are as to be rated very well.
Stage 2
Stage 2 is when two or more lymph node regions are infested, however on the same side of the diaphragm either in the abdomen or in the chest.
The therapy for stage 2 lymph node cancer is identical to the therapy in the early stage.
Here, too, the chances of recovery are still very good!
Stage 3
Stage 3 is a lymph gland cancer that occurs in several lymph node regions on both sides of the diaphragm - i.e. both in the chest and in the abdomen. Here one speaks of a “systemic” spread.
In Hodgkin's disease, a different chemotherapy composition is selected from stage 3 onwards. After this has been completed, remnants of the tumor tissue can be found and specifically irradiated using an examination technique known as positron emission tomography (PET). This stage also has a good chance of recovery.
The highly malignant non-Hodgkin lymphoma is also still curable in stage 3 with chemotherapy.
Read more on the topic: Positron emission tomography
Only the so-called low-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma is currently no longer curable from stage 3. From now on, a so-called palliative therapy is initiated here, which restricts tumor growth and can therefore give the patient the longest possible life expectancy. Concomitant complaints and pain are also alleviated as best as possible. Since the low-grade, i.e. non-aggressive, non-Hodgkin lymphomas usually only divide slowly, the chances of a cure are poor, but the prognosis is somewhat better, as the cancer does not destroy the entire body quickly.
Stage 4 - terminal stage
Lymph gland cancer has reached stage 4 when organs outside the lymph system are also affected and daughter tumors (Metastases) for example in the liver or in the brain.
At Hodgkin's disease and the highly malignant non-Hodgkin's lymphoma Therapy remains the same for stage 3. They still exist Chances of recovery, even if the burden is significantly greater than in the initial stages and the chances are slightly lower.
Just that low-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma is incurable in stage 4. The palliative therapy mentioned above is used here.
Chances of recovery in children
Children can also develop lymph node cancer. Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas make up around 6% of cancer in children under 15, and Hodgkin's disease around 5%.
Even in children, the chances of recovery depend on the type of lymph node cancer and at what stage it is discovered. So the chances of recovery are with you Non-Hodgkin lymphoma in childhood in stages 1 and 2 almost 100%. Even if other lymph node areas and organs in the Stages 3 and 4 remain a good prognosis.
Hodgkin's disease also has a very good prognosis in all stages with a chance of survival of over 90%.
In rare cases, even in children, lymphomas recur after healing, but the prognosis has not yet been clearly established from statistical data.
Of course, all children, as well as adults, react differently to the possible therapy options and thus have one individual chance of recovery. The statistical values should as a guideline only are seen and do not apply to every single child.
Also read: Lymphatic Cancer Prognosis.
therapy
The therapy is a decisive factor for the chances of recovery, which is why we give a brief overview of it here.
Therapy depends on that stage the cancer, but also depends very much on the Condition of the patient from. The therapy options for lymphatic cancer include Chemotherapy, radiation therapy and the removal of lymph gland cancer through surgery.
Usually patients speak well to them Combination of radiation and chemotherapy However, there are sometimes serious side effects that you should be aware of and about which you will be informed by the attending physician.
Although these risks have all been proven, the therapies are still carried out, as their benefits far outweigh them.
More information can be found here: Lymphatic cancer therapy
Risk of complications
With all cancers one must also consider that even after healing in the course of further life the treated cancer may recur - this is known as Relapse. Often these recurrences can be treated well, here again the decisive factor is at which stage they are discovered and treated.
In addition, Hodgkin's disease patients have an increased risk of developing other cancers (such as breast or thyroid cancer). The risk increases if the tumor is infected with a Combination of chemotherapy and radiation is treated, as this often damages surrounding cells.
You can also find more information here: Chemotherapy side effects
forecast
Lymph gland cancer is one of the types of cancer that is usually associated with a good prognosis goes hand in hand. Especially if it is discovered early, the chances of a complete cure are good. Cure is sometimes possible even in more advanced stages or when a relapse occurs.
In oncology, the terms complete cure are used very rarely and prognostic information rather with a 5 year survival rate specified. If lymph gland cancer is diagnosed at an early stage and treatment is started immediately, up to 90% of patients will survive 5 years after diagnosis. In very advanced stages, especially if metastasis has already occurred in other parts of the body, the chances drop to below 80%.
More information can be found here: Lymph gland cancer - how is it Forecast?
prophylaxis
Since up to now no precise information about the causes of the Development of a lymph gland cancer are known, so far there are no possibilities for prophylaxis. Some forms of lymph gland cancer (e.g. Burkitt's lymphoma) are associated with a viral infection, but this makes no difference in therapy.
The only thing that needs to be mentioned as an important point is that you can endure a long term Swelling of a lymph node should see a doctor (especially if it is painless and there are currently no other infections) in order to detect the cancer early if necessary.
