Can You Survive with Lymphoma?

Lymphoma is a general term that describes a group of blood cancers of the lymphatic system. These cancers affect the lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell) and impair the body’s immune response. It is the 5th most common type of cancer in the UK. Survival rates from lymphoma are based on several factors, including the type or subtype of lymphoma, age, overall health, and personal decisions. Lets take a deeper look into this.
📝 What is lymphoma?
Lymphocytes travel around your body in the lymphatic system, carrying a fluid called lymph. They are part of the immune system and their primary function is to help fight infection. The lymph fluid passes through glands (lymph nodes), which are spread throughout your body.
Lymphoma starts when a single lymphocyte undergoes an unnatural change (mutation) and becomes a cancerous lymphoma cell. Eventually healthy cells are crowded out and cancerous lymphoma cells build-up in the lymph nodes and other parts of the body.
📝 Types of lymphoma
- Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL)
- Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL)
Under the microscope
The main difference between Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is the presence of abnormal cancer cells called Reed-Sternberg cells. Hodgkin lymphoma produces these types of cells, but non-Hodgkin lymphoma does not. These cells have more than one nucleus when seen under a microscope and are often described as owl’s eyes.
Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL)
Classic Hodgkin lymphoma is the most common form of this disease, typically starting above the diaphragm in the neck, armpits, or chest.
The American Cancer Society’s estimates for Hodgkin lymphoma in the United States for 2025 are:
- About 8,720 new cases (4,840 in males and 3,880 in females)
- About 1,150 deaths (720 males and 430 females)
Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL)
The two most common subtypes of non-Hodgkin lymphoma are diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and follicular lymphoma.
The American Cancer Society’s estimates for non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2025 are:
- About 80,350 people (45,140 males and 35,210 females) will be diagnosed with NHL. This includes both adults and children
- About 19,390 people will die from this cancer (11,060 males and 8,330 females)
📝 Staging
Staging is the process of working out which parts of your body are affected by lymphoma. It can be thought of as how ‘advanced’ your lymphoma is. The lymphatic system is all over the body so it is common for lymphoma to be at an advanced stage when it is diagnosed. However, there is effective treatment for both early and advanced stage lymphomas.
The tests and scans you have when you are diagnosed help doctors to work out the stage of your lymphoma, which helps your medical team plan the most appropriate treatment for you.
- Stage 1 – A single group of lymph nodes affected anywhere in the body
- Stage 2 – Two or more groups of lymph nodes affected (on the same side of the diaphragm)
- Stage 3 – Two or more groups of lymph nodes affected (on both sides of the diaphragm)
- Stage 4 – lymphoma that has spread to at least one body organ outside the lymphatic system e.g. bone marrow, liver, intestine
Different types and stages of lymphoma respond to different treatments. Lymphomas can be aggressive (fast-growing or high grade) or indolent (slow-growing or low grade).
🏥 Symptoms of lymphoma
- Swollen lymph nodes
They’re usually not sore and might feel like a lump under the skin. Lumps usually have a smooth, rubbery feel and move easily under the skin when pressed
- Fatigue
Unlike normal sleepiness or tiredness this kind of exhaustion can’t be relieved by a nap or a goodnights sleep.
- Night sweats
Some people with lymphoma wake up with their sheets soaked from drenching night sweats. Sometimes you will sweat heavily during the daytime too.
A couple of kilograms of loss isn’t significant, but you may lose anywhere close to 10% of your body weight over the course of several months without trying.
Lymphoma cells release substances that can increase body temperature leading to a low fever that may come and go.
❗ Risk factors
Like most cancers, the majority of the genetic mutations that cause lymphoma happen spontaneously, without a clear cause. Some conditions or issues may increase your risk of developing lymphoma:
- Age
- Gender, with it being more common in males
- Having a medical condition that already weakens your immune system
- Family history
- Previous exposure to the Epstein-Barr/Herpes viruses
🔬 Diagnosis
- Physical exam to check for swollen lymph nodes
- Blood and urine analysis to rule out other forms of infection or disease
- A biopsy involving removal of a sample of lymph nodes to test for cancerous cells
- CT/MRI scans
- Bone marrow biopsy
- Lumbar puncture
💊 Treatment options
Lymphoma treatment involves a range of different options depending on discussion with a healthcare provider. Treatment plans focus on helping people to have a good quality of life and successfully manage the condition.
- Chemotherapy. Oral or IV medication that targets and kills cancerous cells. It can be used as a stand alone cancer treatment or combined with radiation therapy and biological therapy
- Radiation therapy. Commonly used for early stage cancer where a localised source of lymphoma has been found. It uses high energy beams to kill cancer cells
- Immunotherapy. This therapy is used to change immune cells in your system to help fight the cancer cells
- Bone marrow transplants
- Other methods of treatment, including a stem cell transplant, alternative drugs, or drug combinations
Side effects of treatment
Lymphoma treatments may have different side effects because people often have different reactions to the same treatment. Your healthcare provider can provide information about treatment side effects and what you can do to manage them.
📊 Lymphoma survival rates
Hodgkin lymphoma
Survival for all stages of Hodgkin lymphoma
According to Cancer UK data, generally for people with Hodgkin lymphoma in England:
- More than 90% survive their cancer for 1 year or more after diagnosis
- 85% survive their cancer for 5 years or more after diagnosis
- 75% survive their cancer for 10 years or more after they are diagnosed
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Survival for all non-Hodgkin lymphomas
According to Cancer UK data generally for people with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma in England:
- 80% survive their cancer for 1 year or more after they are diagnosed
- 65% survive their cancer for 5 years or more after diagnosis
- 55% will survive their cancer for 10 years or more after they are diagnosed
Some important information about these survival statistics:
- The terms 1 year survival and 5 year survival don’t mean that you will only live for 1 or 5 years
- The NHS, other health organisations, and researchers collect information from clinical trials. They record what happens to people with cancer in the years after their diagnosis. Five years is a common time point to measure survival, but some people live much longer than this (prognostic factors must be considered)
- 5 year survival is the number of people who have not died from their cancer within 5 years after diagnosis
📈 📉 What affects survival
Lymphoma survival depends on many factors. These are called prognostic factors.
These factors include what stage lymphoma is in your body and if certain symptoms (B symptoms) are present when you were diagnosed. B symptoms include:
- Unexpected weight loss in the past 6 months
- Excessive sweating at night
- High temperatures
The type of lymphoma, each patient’s lymphocyte counts, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels and red blood cell counts and general health also affect your survival. Healthcare professionals will use many tools to predict your outlook.
📝 Conclusion
The two main types of lymphoma are Hodgkin’s and Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. According to Cancer UK data, Hodgkin’s lymphoma has a better survival rate than Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Survival and length of survival from either type of lymphoma is dependant on many prognostic factors. In general, the earlier lymphoma is diagnosed the better the prognosis. Survival rates are general statistics based on large groups of people. They can never tell you what will happen for you as an individual.
Sources
- Cancer Statistics Center – American Cancer Society
- How Common is Lymphoma? – Key Statistics for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma – American Cancer Society
- Survival for Hodgkin Lymphoma – Cancer Research UK
- Survival for non-Hodgkin lymphoma | Cancer Research UK
- Lymphoma: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment
- Hodgkin lymphoma – NHS
- Non-Hodgkin lymphoma – NHS
- About Cancer – Cancer Research UK
Medical Disclaimer
NowPatient has taken all reasonable steps to ensure that all material is factually accurate, complete, and current. However, the knowledge and experience of a qualified healthcare professional should always be sought after instead of using the information on this page. Before taking any drug, you should always speak to your doctor or another qualified healthcare provider.
The information provided here about medications is subject to change and is not meant to include all uses, precautions, warnings, directions, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or negative effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a particular medication does not imply that the medication or medication combination is appropriate for all patients or for all possible purposes.
Related Articles
Can I Trust NowPatient
Our product and services are certified to international healthcare, medical device and data security standards
Medicines Experts
Meet our medical team
We are a broad skilled and passionate group of clinicians with experience of operating in health systems in the United Kingdom & United States. Providing excellent care and advice is at the heart of everything we do. You can read more about our medical team by visiting the medical team page or learn more about how we curate content by visiting our editorial process
WHY WE BUILT NOWPATIENT
We are committed to helping everyone, everywhere live healthier lives
The NowPatient virtual care platform provides you with access to trusted health information, affordable treatments, management of chronic health conditions and continuous monitoring for health risks. NowPatient can be accessed by downloading the App or using your web browser.
Download our app today

Your Questions Answered
For your peace of mind, we can answer your questions quickly
What does NowPatient do?
NowPatient is an online pharmacy & telehealth service that is available in the US and UK. Our service is FREE and packed with useful features that can help you save money on the cost of your medications, access virtual treatments, and provide tools that can help improve your overall health.
Get started today and benefit from medication reminders, Get Treated Privately, NHS online pharmacy, GP appointment booking, Rx savings card, Drug Coupons, US drug savings programs, health conditions information, genetic testing, home test kits, BMI Risks, Type 2 Diabetes Risks, pollen meter, air quality monitor, and lots more!
Our service is operated by experienced medical professionals in the United States and the United Kingdom. You can view the online services that we provide by clicking Features.
UK users can safely and securely buy medicines online that treat a wide range of medical conditions. UK customers can also order NHS prescriptions online with the benefit of free tracked delivery.
US customers, regardless of insurance coverage, can enjoy huge savings on prescription medications using our various drug savings programs including drug coupons, savings card and manufacturer-sponsored patient assistance programs.
Where is NowPatient located?
NowPatient has offices in the United Kingdom and United States.
In the UK, we are located at:
NowPatient
28 Chipstead Valley Road
Coulsdon
Surrey
CR52RA
In the US, we are located at:
NowPatient
8911 North Capital of Texas Highway
Suite 4200 #1263
78759
Austin, TX
How can I contact NowPatient?
To contact NowPatient, please use the contact form available on the Contact Us page.
Alternatively, if you need to speak to us, you can reach us on the following numbers:
UK telephone number – 020 388 51 500
US telephone number – 1-866-967-1977
Who owns NowPatient?
NowPatient is owned and operated by Infohealth Ltd, a licensed online pharmacy with services spanning the UK, US and Rest of the World. Infohealth Ltd is registered in England and Wales under company number 04004930 and our registered office is at Lynwood House, 373 – 375 Station Road, Harrow, England, HA1 2AW.
Our website is www.nowpatient.com. Our App is called “NowPatient” and can be downloaded from the App Store (for Apple devices) or Google Play (for Android devices).
Can you tell me more about your NHS online pharmacy?
NowPatient’s Pharmaceutical services in the UK are provided by Infohealth Limited trading as ‘Infohealth Pharmacy’.
Our dispensing pharmacy is regulated and authorized for internet sales by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), registration number 1036487. You can view our license credentials on the General Pharmaceutical Council website. Our superintendent pharmacist who is responsible for the safe and effective oversight of medicines supplies is Mr Amish Patel (Registration Number 2042705).
Medicines are not ordinary items of commerce. All medicines or healthcare product sales are made under the supervision of a registered pharmacist who is licensed by the GPhC. At all times, we endeavour to provide a professional and transparent service whose primary goal is to ensure that the best interests of the patient are served.
How do I make a complaint?
From time to time, we accept that our service levels may not be up to your expectations. NowPatient welcomes concerns, compliments and complaints as valuable feedback that will help us learn from your experiences and make improvements. Feedback can be provided via our clear and transparent Complaints Procedures.
Can you tell me more about NowPatient’s prescribing services for treatments offered?
Our prescribing services are regulated by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). We provide the following regulated activity:
• treatment of disease, disorder, or injury
• transport services, triage, and medical advice are provided remotely
• caring for adults over 65 years old
• caring for adults under 65 years old
NowPatient prescribing services are run by Infohealth Limited. The Clinical Safety Officer and nominated individual is Mr Navin Khosla.
Can you tell me more about NowPatient’s US services?
Our head of US services is Dr. Jamie Winn.
You can lower the cost of your prescription medications using our various savings programs which include drug coupons, savings card and manufacturer-sponsored patient assistance programs.
We do not provide any prescribing services or dispensing services in the United States.
Is NowPatient legit and can I trust information from NowPatient?
Yes. NowPatient provides trustworthy and accessible clinical, health education and prescription services. We are also trusted by the NHS to deliver clinical and NHS repeat prescription dispensing across the whole of England. In the United States, we work with over 65,000 pharmacies to deliver considerable costs savings for our users.
NowPatient is operated by experienced licensed medical professionals in the United Kingdom and United States. Our Medical Team can be found here.
Our service is trusted by thousands of patients worldwide. You can read their reviews on our Trustpilot:
What are NowPatient’s opening hours?
Our office hours are:
UK – Monday-Friday 9am-6pm GMT
US – Monday-Friday 8am-5pm EST
Please note that we are closed at weekends.
In the event of a medical life-threatening emergency please call:
UK – 999
US – 911
In the event of a medical emergency which is not life-threatening please call:
UK – 111