Statistics and outlook for Hodgkin's lymphoma

This page contains quite detailed information about the survival rates for different stages of Hodgkin's lymphoma (Hodgkin's disease). We have included it because many people have asked us for this. But not everyone who is diagnosed with a cancer wants to read this type of information. If you are not sure whether you want to know at the moment or not, then perhaps you might like to skip this page for now. You can always come back to it.

Please note that there are no national statistics available for different stages of Hodgkin's lymphoma or different treatments that people have had. The statistics we present here are pulled together from a variety of different sources, including the opinions and experience of the experts who check each section of CancerHelp UK. We provide statistics because people ask us for them. But they are only intended as a general guide and cannot predict exactly what will happen in your case.

There are explanations about the different types of cancer statistics on the page about incidence, survival and mortality. Unless you are very familiar with medical statistics, it might help to read this before you read the statistics below.

Remember that ‘5 year survival’ is a term doctors use. It does not mean you will only live 5 years. It relates to the number of people in research who are still alive 5 years after diagnosis. Doctors follow what happens to people for 5 years after treatment in any research study. They can then compare the results of treatment with other research studies. So they commonly use the term ‘5 year survival’.

The treatment of Hodgkin's lymphoma is often very successful and many people are cured. Overall, more than 80 out of every 100 people (80%) diagnosed in England and Wales will live for at least 5 years after diagnosis.

As with many other types of cancer, the outcome depends on how advanced your cancer is when it is diagnosed. In other words, the stage of your cancer.

Early stage Hodgkin's lymphoma means stage 1 or 2 disease. Between 91 and 94 out of every 100 people (91 to 94%) diagnosed with early stage Hodgkin's lymphoma will live for at least 5 years.

With the more advanced stage 3 and 4 Hodgkin's lymphoma between 59 and 90 out of every 100 people (59 to 90%) will live for at least 5 years.

The type of Hodgkin's lymphoma will affect how successful treatment is likely to be. Younger people also tend to do better. For example, the most recent 5 year survival rates in people aged 15 to 49 were about 90%. In people aged over 70 the 5 year survival was about 30%.

Even if Hodgkin's lymphoma comes back after it has first been treated, it can often be treated successfully again, perhaps with a stem cell transplant. It is slightly less likely to be cured if it has come back, but treatment can still often keep it under control for long periods (years) at a time.

Reliability of statistics

No statistics can tell you exactly what will happen to you. Your cancer is unique. The same type of cancer can grow at different rates in different people and some treatments work very well for some people and less well for others. The statistics are not detailed enough to tell you about the different treatments that people may have had. And how that treatment may have affected their prognosis. There are many individual factors that will affect your treatment and prognosis. For information about the likely outcome in your individual case you need to speak to your own cancer specialist.

Research evidence shows that taking part in clinical trials may improve outlook. No one is completely sure why this is. It is probably partly to do with your doctors and nurses monitoring you more closely if you are in a trial. For example, you may have more scans and blood tests. There is more information in the trials and research section of CancerHelp UK. To search our clinical trials database for Hodgkin's lymphoma trials, pick 'Hodgkin's' from the dropdown menu of cancer types.