Is stage 4 lymphoma considered advanced?

Lymphoma is a malignant tumor that mostly occurs in young and middle-aged people. The annual incidence rate in my country is as high as 20,000 to 30,000 people, and the mortality rate is quite high. We recommend that you learn more about lymphoma and strengthen prevention in your life. So is stage 4 lymphoma considered advanced? Let's take a look at the following introduction.

Clinically, lymphoma is divided into four stages: stages 1 and 2 are considered early stages; stages 3 and 4 are defined as late stages.

Stage I means that only one lymph node area is invaded by cancer cells.

In stage II, cancer cells have invaded two or more lymph node areas, but only on one side of the diaphragm.

The third stage: if cancer cells invade both sides of the diaphragm.

Stage IV: Multiple extra-lymph node cancer cell invasion, regardless of whether accompanied by lymph node lesions; or a single organ with distant lymph node invasion.

Common symptoms of lymphoma include:

1. Local manifestations

Lymph node enlargement is a symptom of lymphoma, including superficial and deep lymph nodes. Its characteristics are that the enlarged lymph nodes are progressive, painless, hard, and can be moved. In the early stage, they are not adhered to each other, but in the late stage, they can fuse. Anti-inflammatory and anti-tuberculosis treatments are ineffective. Superficial lymph nodes are more common in the neck, followed by the armpits and the abdominal groove. Deep lymph nodes are more common in the mediastinum and beside the abdominal aorta. Lymph node enlargement causes local compression symptoms, mainly deep lymph nodes, such as enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes, which can compress the esophagus and cause dysphagia; compress the superior vena cava to cause superior vena cava syndrome; compress the trachea to cause coughing, chest tightness, dyspnea and cyanosis.

2. Systemic symptoms of lymphoma

Fever: Fever patterns are mostly irregular, ranging from 38 to 39°C for many years. Some patients may have continuous high fever, or intermittent low fever, and a few may have periodic fever.