Lymphoma is a curable disease, but the prognosis of the disease depends on various factors. If all the impacting factors are positive for the patient, the prognosis of the disease is highly favorable. The survival rate of such patients is high. Also, with the highly sophisticated and most modern technology in both diagnosis and treatment, the survival rate of this disease will increase in future.
Stage 3 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
On the basis of severity of the disease and the spreading of Hodgkin’s lymphoma to other organs, Hodgkin’s lymphoma is divided in to four stages. These stages are subclassified on the basis of complexity and presentation of symptoms. The staging helps the oncologist to identify the extent of the disease and the required treatment regimen. Following is the characteristic of Stage 3 Hodgkin’s lymphoma:
The lymphoma is present in the lymph nodes above and below the diaphragm and the lymphatic organs are also involved.
In the Stage III-1, spleen, celiac or portal nodes are involved and in stage III-2, paraaortic, inguinal, iliac, or mesenteric nodes are involved.
Symptoms Of Stage 3 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
The symptoms of the stage 3 Hodgkin’s lymphoma include enlarged lymph nodes above and below the diaphragm, unexplained weight loss, night sweats and high fever. Further, the patient also experiences loss of appetite, tiredness and itching on the skin.
Is Stage 3 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Curable?
The stage 3 Hodgkin’s lymphoma is curable. The prognosis of the condition is quite favorable. The one-year survival rate for the stage 3 Hodgkin’s lymphoma is approximately 92% and the 5-year survival rate of Hodgkin’s lymphoma is about 80%. The treatment strategy for lymphoma depends upon the variety of factors and these factors when combined decide the fate of the treatment. These factors may include age of the patient, stage of lymphoma, the complexity of symptoms, B symptoms or bulky disease and the report of the blood tests. Following are the treatment strategies used by the Oncologists for treating lymphoma:
- Chemotherapy: The primary therapy for any type of cancer is the chemotherapy. These drugs are administered to target the fast dividing cells. Generally, the combination of chemotherapeutic agents is prescribed so as to keep the side effects at the minimum level and increasing efficacy. The regimes in advanced stages of disease are generally more intense as compared to what was used in the limited stages. The oncologist may use AVBD for at least 6 cycles and may progress on to use 8 cycles of BEACOPP regimen. Through PET and CT scans the oncologist keep a watch on the efficacy of the treatment and decides whether to continue the treatment or alter the regimen.
- Radiotherapy: The treatment with radiotherapy in advanced stages requires multiple sessions of radiotherapy. The radiotherapy may either be done for treatment or can be done as a strategy for palliative care. The radiotherapy is preferred when there is a large mass of tumor.
- Steroids: Steroids are also the part of Hodgkin’s lymphoma treatment regimen. They are used to increase the efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents. Further, they also reduce the side effects of the chemotherapy and improves patient’s compliance and convenience.
- Immunotherapy: The immunotherapy is relatively a new form of treatment for Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The immunotherapy acts in two ways. First, they increase the efficacy of innate immune system to fight against the cancerous cells and second, they also kill the cancerous cells.
- Stem Cell Transplant: Bone marrow is the area where the cells of the blood are formed. During the chemotherapy, this part of the bone gets destroyed. So, stem cell transplant is required in some patients.
- Antibody Therapy: This therapy can be used with chemotherapy to increase the efficacy of treatment regimen for Hodgkin’s lymphoma while reducing its side effects.
- Surgery: In some cases of Hodgkin’s lymphoma, surgery is required to remove the tumor.
Conclusion
Stage 3 Hodgkin’s lymphoma is completely curable. The prognosis depends upon the factors such as age of the patient, response to treatment, other health complications and the sub-stage of the disease such as bulky or having B symptoms. Technology is continuously providing the latest treatment options with high efficacy and lower side effects.
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