Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDiagnosisSymptomsTreatmentPrognosis
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Diagnosis
Symptoms
Treatment
Prognosis
Stage 3lymphomais diagnosed when cancer cells have been found in the lymph areas above and below the diaphragm. Lymphoma is also considered stage 3 when cancer cells are in a lymph area above the diaphragm and in the spleen.
Lymphoma is measured in stages from 1 to4. Stage 1 has the least amount of spread. This article will define what stage 3 lymphoma is, discuss the symptoms and treatments you may have in stage 3, and your potential prognosis.
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Getting a Diagnosis of Stage 3 Lymphoma
After receiving a lymphoma diagnosis, your healthcare provider will run tests to identify the stage the cancer is in. This helps determine the type of treatment that will be best for you. Tests include:
Both Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphomas are stage 3 if one of these two criteria are met:
Symptoms of Stage 3 Lymphoma
Stage 3 lymphoma symptoms vary based on the location of the tumors. 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 can have B symptoms at any stage, from 2 to 4. If you have B symptoms, a B is added to your stage designation. If you’re in stage 3 and have B symptoms, you are in stage 3B. If you don’t 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. In some instances, Adcetris (brentuximab vedotin), a targeted therapy monoclonal antibody drug, may be added to your treatment protocol.
Radiation therapy may be done after chemo to target areas of the body with large or multiple tumors. The type of radiation used is typically external beam radiation.A machine will deliver a focused beam of radiation directly at the tumor site.
Immunologic drugsmay be used alone or in addition to chemotherapy. Immunologic medications boost your immune system, so you’re better able to kill or slow down the growth of lymphoma cells. 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.
If you don’t respond favorably to treatment, or your lymphoma comes back (relapse), a stem cell transplant may be recommended to you.Stem cell transplants are also known asbone marrow transplants. This treatment allows your healthcare provider to give you higher doses of chemotherapy, which damages the bone marrow.
In a stem cell transplant for lymphoma, stem cells are usually harvested from the person before the high-dose chemotherapy.They are then infused after treatment and migrate to the bone marrow to restore its ability to produce blood cells.
Many variables affect your prognosis. They include the type of lymphoma you have, your age, and overall health. Your response to treatment is also an important factor.
By its very nature, this data does not reflect new treatments which have become standardized within the last five years. These percentages are estimates. They’re not predictions about your condition.
Distant spread is defined as lymphoma that has spread to distant parts of the body, or to lymph node areas located above and below the diaphragm. Stage 3 lymphoma is considered distant spread.
Summary
Stage 3 lymphoma is defined in one of two ways. Either cancer cells have been found in lymph areas above and below the diaphragm, or cancer cells are in a lymph area above the diaphragm plus in the spleen.
Stage 3 lymphoma is usually treated with chemotherapy. Other treatments can include radiation, targeted therapy, and immunologic drugs.
The prognosis for stage 3 lymphoma varies and is based on several factors, including the type of lymphoma you have, your overall health, and your response to treatment.
A Word From Verywell
Lymph nodes are located all over the body, and lymphoma symptoms can indicate many other conditions. For these reasons, it’s not uncommon to first be diagnosed with lymphoma when you’re in stage 3. Don’t 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.
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Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.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.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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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.
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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.
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