Stage 3lymphomais diagnosed when cancer cells have been found in the lymph areas above and below the diaphragm.
Lymphoma is measured in stages from 1 to4.
Stage 1 has the least amount of spread.
SeventyFour / Getty Images
This helps determine the key in of treatment that will be best for you.
If lymphoma is in your spleen, your stomach may be affected.
Tumors in or near the chest may cause shortness of breath and other symptoms.
Symptoms of Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma can include:
What Are B Symptoms?
A specific group of lymphoma symptoms is identified as B symptoms.
you might have B symptoms at any stage, from 2 to 4.
If you have B symptoms, a B is added to your stage designation.
If youre in stage 3 and have B symptoms, you are in stage 3B.
If you dont have B symptoms, you are in stage 3A.
B symptoms are:
Treatments for Stage 3 Lymphoma
Stage 3 lymphoma is treatable.
Your healthcare provider may recommend several different therapies for you.
Treatments at this stage are geared towards shrinking or eradicating tumors.
Chemotherapy is the main treatment used for stage 3 lymphoma.Chemo is beneficial for killing cancer cells throughout the body.
Based on the drugs used, you may have anywhere from three to eight cycles.
Chemo may be given intravenously or orally.
Radiation therapy may be done after chemo to target areas of the body with large or multiple tumors.
Immunologic drugsmay be used alone or in addition to chemotherapy.
Immunologic drugs are given intravenously.
Targeted drug therapy may be tried.
Targeted therapy drugs zero in on the proteins on cancer cells that instruct them to grow and divide.
This treatment allows your healthcare provider to give you higher doses of chemotherapy, which damages the bone marrow.
Prognosis
Many variables affect your prognosis.
They include the punch in of lymphoma you have, your age, and overall health.
Your response to treatment is also an important factor.
Data about survival rates is usually indicated by a five-year time frame.
These percentages are estimates.
Theyre not predictions about your condition.
The five-year relative survival rates for lymphoma are based on spread, not stage.
The three spread levels are localized, regional, and distant.
Stage 3 lymphoma is considered distant spread.
Summary
Stage 3 lymphoma is defined in one of two ways.
Stage 3 lymphoma is usually treated with chemotherapy.
Other treatments can include radiation, targeted therapy, and immunologic drugs.
For these reasons, its not uncommon to first be diagnosed with lymphoma when youre in stage 3.
Dont let that throw you for a loop.
Stage 3 lymphoma is treatable and often curable.
Advances in new research, and clinical trials, are happening worldwide for this condition.
You have every reason to hope and plan for a cancer-free future.
American Cancer Society.Tests for Hodgkin lymphoma.
American Cancer Society.Hodgkin lymphoma stages.
American Cancer Society.Non-Hodgkin lymphoma stages.
American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of Hodgkin lymphoma.
American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
American Cancer Society.Chemotherapy for non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
American Cancer Society.Chemotherapy for Hodgkin lymphoma.
American Cancer Society.Radiation therapy for non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
American Cancer Society.Immunotherapy for non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
American Cancer Society.Targeted drug therapy for non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Lymphoma Action.Stem cell transplants.
American Cancer Society.High-dose chemotherapy and stem cell transplant for Hodgkin lymphoma.
American Cancer Society.Survival rates and factors that affect prognosis (outlook) for non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
American Cancer Society.Survival rates for Hodgkin lymphoma.
