Staging
The
stage of a lymphoma is used to describe where it is in the body, how many
lymph glands are affected and whether it has spread to other lymph glands or
other organs. Stage 1 One
group of lymph nodes is affected. Stage 2 Two
or more groups of nodes are affected, but the lymphoma is only on one side of
the diaphragm. The
diaphragm is the sheet of muscle under the lungs that plays a large part in
our breathing. The part of the body above the diaphragm is considered the
upper half, and below the diaphragm is considered the lower half of the body. Stage 3 The
lymphoma is in lymph nodes on both sides of the diaphragm. Stage 4 The
lymphoma has spread beyond the lymph nodes, for example to other organs such
as the bone marrow, liver or lungs. As
well as giving each stage a number, a letter code – either A or B – is also
used to show whether you have other specific symptoms such as weight loss,
fevers, itches, or night sweats. If
you have no symptoms you will be classified as an A, and if you have, then
obviously you will be classified as a B. Occasionally,
lymphomas can occur at unusual sites outside the lymph nodes such as the
stomach, and his is called extranodal lymphoma and the stage will include the
letter E.
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