What is the recurrence rate of lymphoma

With the great improvement of lymphoma treatment, the prognosis and survival period of lymphoma is getting longer and longer. Many patients can even get married and have children. On the surface, they are no different from the general population. However, after being cured, many patients will worry about whether the tumor will recur? When will it recur? Is the recurrence rate high?

Even for patients with malignant tumors who achieve complete remission after chemotherapy or combined radiotherapy, the tumor cells are not completely eradicated. The so-called complete remission is only a preliminary treatment success in the clinical sense. Many cells remaining in the body will still cause tumor recurrence.

As for the recurrence situation, it varies according to the tumor type, each person's physical condition and nursing situation. The risk of recurrence is relatively high in the first two years after the end of treatment. Although the initial treatment of Hodgkin's lymphoma is relatively effective and the complete remission rate is also high, about one-quarter to one-third of cases will relapse.

There are big differences between different types of lymphoma. The recurrence rate of peripheral T-cell lymphoma is very high. Most indolent lymphomas cannot be completely cured with current treatments and may relapse sooner or later. Burkitt lymphoma rarely relapses one year after the end of treatment.

Therefore, patients who have undergone treatment must not think that there will be no recurrence after treatment. They must not take follow-up examinations lightly. Follow-up examinations are usually conducted every 3 to 4 months after treatment. After two years, follow-up examinations can be conducted every six months. After five years, follow-up examinations can be conducted once a year. This should be maintained for life so that the recurrence of the tumor can be monitored at any time.