Prognosis and survival for Hodgkin lymphoma

If you have Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), you may have questions about your prognosis. A prognosis is the doctor’s best estimate of how cancer will affect someone and how it will respond to treatment. Prognosis and survival depend on many risk factors. Only a doctor familiar with your medical history, the type, stage and characteristics of your cancer, the treatments chosen and the response to treatment can put all of this information together with survival statistics to arrive at a prognosis.

A prognostic factor is an aspect of the cancer or a characteristic of the person that the doctor will consider when making a prognosis. A predictive factor influences how a cancer will respond to a certain treatment. Prognostic and predictive factors are often discussed together. They both play a part in deciding on a treatment plan and a prognosis.

The stage of HL is an important factor in determining a prognosis and planning treatment. But how far the HL has spread and the organs or areas of tissue it affects can be different within each stage. So doctors use the following factors to help them estimate a prognosis for early and advanced HL. These factors are called unfavourable (adverse) risks because they mean there is a greater risk that the HL will come back (relapse) after it is treated.

Early Hodgkin lymphoma

Early HL includes stages 1 and 2. Doctors classify early HL as favourable or unfavourable based on the following 5 factors. Some of the International Prognostic Score (IPS) factors for advanced HL may also be used. Favourable HL means that the person doesn’t have any of these factors. Unfavourable HL means that the person has one or more of these factors.

B symptoms

Doctors will add the letter A to the stage when the person doesn’t have B symptoms. The letter B means that the person has B symptoms. So early HL includes stages 1A, 1B and 2A.

B symptoms are generalized symptoms that affect the whole body:

  • unexplained fever
  • drenching night sweats
  • unexplained weight loss of more than 10% of body weight over the last 6 months

Large mediastinal (chest) mass

Bulky (large) chest tumours often have a less favourable prognosis because they don’t tend to respond as well to treatment as smaller tumours. Doctors may describe the following as bulky:

  • a tumour in the chest that is at least one-third as wide as the chest on a chest x-ray
  • a tumour that is 10 cm or more across on a CT scan

Spread to areas other than the lymph nodes

HL that is only in lymph nodes has a more favourable prognosis than HL that has spread to other organs or areas of the body, such as the bone marrow, liver or lungs. Doctors may refer to areas other than the lymph nodes as extranodal sites.

Spread to several lymph node areas

HL that is in 3 or more areas of lymph nodes has a less favourable prognosis.

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)

The following are unfavourable risk factors:

  • ESR of 50 mm/h or higher in people who don’t have B symptoms
  • ESR of 30 mm/h or higher in people who have B symptoms

Advanced Hodgkin lymphoma

Advanced HL includes stage 3 and 4. Some doctors also include people with B symptoms or people with bulky tumours in this category.

The International Prognostic Score (IPS) helps doctors predict a prognosis and determine treatment for people with advanced HL. It is based on the following 7 unfavourable risk factors.

Stage 4

Stage 4 HL has a less favourable prognosis than stage 2B or stage 3.

Being older

People who are 45 or older have a less favourable prognosis.

Being male

Men have a less favourable prognosis than women.

Low hemoglobin levels

A hemoglobin level of less than 105 g/L is less favourable.

Low albumin levels

An albumin level of less than 40 g/L is less favourable.

High white blood cell count

A white blood cell count of 15,000/mm3 or more is less favourable.

Low lymphocyte count

A lymphocyte count of less than 600/mm3 or less than 8% of the total white blood cell count is less favourable.

Expert review and references

  • American Cancer Society. What is Hodgkin Lymphoma . 2018: Monday, January 14, 2019.
  • American Cancer Society. Survival Rates for Hodgkin Lymphoma by Stage . 2018: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/hodgkin-lymphoma/detection-diagnosis-staging/survival-rates.html.
  • American Society of Clinical Oncology. Lymphoma - Hodgkin . 2017.
  • Cartron G, Solal-Celigny P . Prognostic factors for lymphomas. Marcus R, Sweetenham JW, Williams ME (eds.). Lymphoma: Pathology, Diagnosis, and Treatment. 2nd ed. Cambridge University Press; 2014: 2: 11-31.
  • Lash, Bradley W. Medscape Reference: Hodgkin Lymphoma Treatment and Management . 2018.
  • National Cancer Institute. Adult Hodgkin Lymphoma Treatment (PDQ®) Patient Version . 2018.
  • National Cancer Institute. Adult Hodgkin Lymphoma Treatment (PDQ®) Health Professional Version . 2018.
  • National Comprehensive Cancer Network. NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines: Hodgkin Lymphoma (Version 3.2018) . 2018: Monday, January 14, 2019.
  • Wiernik PH, Balzarotti M, Santoro A . Diagnosis and treatment of Hodgkin's lymphoma. Wiernik PH, Goldman JM, Dutcher JP, Kyle RA (eds.). Neoplastic Diseases of the Blood. 5th ed. Springer; 2013: 45: 985-1013.

Survival statistics for Hodgkin lymphoma

Survival statistics for Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) vary with each stage. Overall HL is very responsive to treatment.

Medical disclaimer

The information that the Canadian Cancer Society provides does not replace your relationship with your doctor. The information is for your general use, so be sure to talk to a qualified healthcare professional before making medical decisions or if you have questions about your health.

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