Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL) Prognosis

Estimated new cases and deaths from non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) in the United States in 2008:

New cases: 66,120.
Deaths: 19,160.

The non-Hodgkin's Lymphomas (NHL) are a varying group of cancers with different patterns of behavior and responses to treatment. The information below is based on large groups of patients and is not meant to predict what will happen to any one patient. Please consult your doctor for your individual prognosis based on the specific information about you case that your doctor knows about you and your lymphomas.

Like Hodgkin's lymphoma, NHL usually originates in lymphoid tissues and can spread to other organs. NHL, however, is much less predictable than Hodgkin lymphoma and has a far greater chance of spreading to sites outside of the lymph nodes. The prognosis depends on the histologic type, stage, and treatment.

Caution: the statistics below are not meant to be used to guess what your own prognosis might be. Cancer prognosis is always difficult, and it is especially difficult with NHLs which are a particularly complex area of cancer. So always consult your doctor, or several doctors, to get an estimate of your own prognosis based on all of the detailed information that your doctor has on your case. The best type of doctors to consult are usually board certified hematologic oncologists (also hematology oncologist, or English spelling haematology oncologist) who have specialized in cancers affecting the blood and lymphatic system. You can search to see what board certifications your doctor has on the website of the American Board of Medical Specialties but you will need to login.

The NHL can be divided into two very general prognostic groups: the indolent lymphomas and the aggressive lymphomas. Indolent NHL types have a relatively good prognosis with a median survival as long as ten years, but they usually are not curable in advanced clinical stages. Early stage (stage I and stage II) indolent NHL can be effectively treated with radiation therapy alone. Most of the indolent types are nodular (or follicular) in morphology (cell shape). The aggressive type of NHL has a shorter natural history, but a significant number of these patients can be cured with intensive combination chemotherapy regimens. In general, with modern treatment of patients with NHL, overall survival at five years is approximately 50% to 60%. Of patients with aggressive NHL, 30% to 60% can be cured. The vast majority of relapses occur in the first two years after therapy. The risk of late relapse is higher in patients with a mixed histology (cell type) of both indolent and aggressive disease.

While indolent NHL is responsive to radiation therapy and chemotherapy, a continuous rate of relapse is usually seen in advanced stages. Patients, however, can often be re-treated with considerable success as long as the disease histology remains low grade. Patients who present with or convert to aggressive forms of NHL may have sustained complete remissions with combination chemotherapy regimens or aggressive consolidation with marrow or stem cell support.

In asymptomatic patients with indolent forms of advanced NHL, treatment may be deferred until the patient becomes symptomatic as the disease progresses. When treatment is deferred, the clinical course of patients with indolent NHL varies; frequent and careful observation is required so that effective treatment can be initiated when the clinical course of the disease accelerates. Some patients have a prolonged indolent course, but others have disease that rapidly evolves into more aggressive types of NHL that require immediate treatment.

Legal Questions

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (NHL) and think it may be caused by toxic exposure to organic solvents like benzene, and you have legal questions or require legal assistance, contact Paul & Hanley LLP.

Our firm has an outstanding track record of success in cases across the country, and our lawyers are known for their honesty, integrity and compassion. We've built our reputation on toxic tort litigation representing individuals diagnosed with NHL, mesothelioma and other serious diseases with dignity and respect.

We handle a select number of cases at a time and represent workers and families with the extra special attention required for the best possible outcome in each case. We understand your case is unique, so we take the time to get to know you and your family. Contact us today for a free and confidential consultation. We'll discuss your specific case and give you honest answers to your important questions. Our toll free telephone number is 800 933-2244. We look forward to helping you.