Final Stages of Lymphoma

The term lymphoma is used for several cancer types that affect our blood cells, particularly the WBCs of white blood cells. WBCs are integral parts of our immune system and are essential for combating diseases and infections. Till date, medical experts have reported about over 60 lymphoma types. These 60 types are divided into two categories non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The classification has been done based on the kind of cells affected by the disease. These two lymphoma types are different in many other ways and also have some features in common. In this article we’ll be discussing about the final stage or stage IV of both these lymphoma types.

Stage IV of Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma:

In this stage the disease reaches the lymph nodes of the patient and start affecting organs located in different parts of his body. The most common sign of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in this stage is swelling of the lymph nodes. Enlargement of the lymph node might result in exertion of excess pressure on the patient’s lungs. Causing symptoms like chest congestion and breathing difficulties. Inflammation of the abdominal nodes can trigger loss of appetite, pain in the abdomen and constipation. Lymph node enlargement in most other body parts results in swelling of that region. Some other common sign of this non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma stage are severe fatigue, night sweats, weight loss, fever etc. The disease may also invade the patient’s skin making it patchy and much thicker.

Stage IV of Hodgkin’s lymphoma:

In this stage the disease invades the patient’s lymph node and tissues and organs like liver, bone and brain get affected. The patients are likely to experience symptoms like fatigue, weight loss, fever, anemia, breathing problems, coughs etc. Invasion of the cancer into the patients liver may cause jaundice.

Popularity: 1% [?]