Survival for non-Hodgkin lymphoma
There are many different types of NHL. Some are low grade which mean they grow slowly. And some are high grade which mean they grow and spread more quickly. Your prognosis depends on what type of NHL you have.
Survival depends on many factors. No one can tell you exactly how long you will live.
Below are general statistics based on large groups of people. Remember, they can’t tell you what will happen in your individual case.
About these 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. They record what happens to people with cancer in the years after their diagnosis. 5 years is a common time point to measure survival. But some people live much longer than this.
5 year survival is the number of people who have not died from their cancer within 5 years after diagnosis.
Survival for all non-Hodgkin lymphomas
Generally, for people with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in England:
- around 80 out of every 100 people (around 80%) survive their cancer for 1 year or more after they are diagnosed
- around 65 out of every 100 people (around 65%) survive their cancer for 5 years or more after diagnosis
- it is predicted that 55 out of every 100 people (55%) will survive their cancer for 10 years or more after they are diagnosed
1 and 5 year survival statistics
Cancer survival in England, cancers diagnosed 2016 to 2020, followed up to 2021
NHS England
These figures are for people diagnosed in England between 2016 and 2020.
10 year survival statistics
Cancer survival in England: adult, stage at diagnosis and childhood - patients followed up to 2018
Office for National Statistics
These figures are for people diagnosed in England between 2013 and 2017
These 1 and 5 year statistics are for net survival. Net survival estimates the number of people who survive their cancer rather than calculating the number of people diagnosed with cancer who are still alive. In other words, it is the survival of cancer patients after taking into account that some people would have died from other causes if they had not had cancer.
The 10 year survival figures are a prediction. This means that the patients were not followed for 10 years. Statisticians can use data from previous groups of patients to estimate the number of people who survive their cancer beyond the follow up period.
Survival for low grade NHL
Low grade lymphomas can be difficult to get rid of completely. But treatment can keep them under control for several years. There are no UK-wide survival statistics available for all the different types and stages of low grade NHL.
Survival statistics are available for the following types of low grade lymphoma:
- follicular lymphoma
- marginal zone lymphoma, including MALT lymphoma
- mantle cell lymphoma
These statistics are for people in one area of England diagnosed between 2010 and 2019.
Generally for people with follicular lymphoma:
- around 85 in 100 people (around 85%) survive their cancer for 5 years or more after diagnosis
For follicular lymphoma, doctors can use a scale called the Follicular Lymphoma International Prognostic Index (FLIPI). It helps doctors predict how people may respond to treatment. You can read more about this index further down this page.
Survival statistics are available for the 3 prognostic groups for follicular lymphoma.
Low risk group
Almost all people (almost 100%) survive for 5 years or more after they are diagnosed.
Intermediate (medium) risk group
Around 90 out of 100 people (around 90%) survive for 5 years or more after diagnosis.
High risk group
Almost 75 out of 100 people (almost 75%) survive for 5 years or more after they are diagnosed.
This is a group of slow growing B cell lymphomas. These statistics are for all types of marginal zone lymphoma including:
- MALT lymphoma
- nodal marginal zone lymphoma
- splenic marginal zone lymphoma
Generally for people with marginal zone lymphoma:
- almost 80 in 100 people (almost 80%) will survive for 5 years or more after diagnosis
This is for all ages. Younger people tend to do better than older people.
For those younger than 60:
- around 90 out of 100 (around 90%) will survive their lymphoma for 5 years or more after diagnosis
For those aged between 60 and 79:
- around 80 out of 100 (around 80%) will survive their lymphoma for 5 years or more after diagnosis
For those who are 80 or older:
- 65 out of 100 (65%) will survive their lymphoma for 5 years or more after they are diagnosed
Mantle cell lymphoma looks like a low grade lymphoma under the microscope. But it often grows more quickly, more like a high grade lymphoma.
Generally for people with mantle cell lymphoma:
- more than 45 in 100 (more than 45%) survive their cancer for 5 years or more after diagnosis
This is for all ages. Younger people tend to do better than older people.
For those younger than 60:
- almost 65 out of 100 (almost 65%) will survive their lymphoma for 5 years or more after diagnosis
For those aged between 60 and 79:
- almost 55 out of 100 (almost 55%) will survive their lymphoma for 5 years or more after diagnosis
For those who are 80 or older:
- around 20 out of 100 (around 20%) will survive their lymphoma for 5 years or more after they are diagnosed
Haematological Malignancy Research Network (HMRN)
Accessed April 2024
The HMRN statistics are for relative survival. Relative survival takes into account that some people will die of causes other than cancer. This gives a more accurate picture of cancer survival.
Doctors use the International Classification of Diseases for Oncology, third edition (ICD-O-3) to categorise tumours. They use it to code the site of the tumour (where it is in the body) and the sub type (what the cells look like under the microscope - histology or morphology). These survival statistics are for the following ICD-O-3 codes:
- follicular lymphoma 9690/3, 9698/3
- mantle cell lymphoma 9673/3
- marginal zone lymphoma 9689/3, 9699/3
Survival for high grade lymphomas
High grade (aggressive) lymphomas generally need more intensive treatment than the low grade types. But they often respond well to treatment. Many people are cured. There are no UK-wide survival statistics available for all the different types and stages of high grade NHL.
Survival statistics are available for the following types of high grade lymphoma:
- diffuse large B cell lymphoma
- Burkitt lymphoma
- peripheral T cell lymphoma - this includes peripheral T cell lymphoma not otherwise specified (PTCL NOS), anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) and angioimmunoblastic T cell lymphoma (AITL)
These statistics are for people in one area of England diagnosed between 2010 and 2019.
Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common type of high grade lymphoma.
Generally for people with DLBCL:
- around 60 in 100 people (around 60%) will survive 5 years or more after their diagnosis
Burkitt lymphoma is a less common type of high grade lymphoma which can grow quite quickly.
Generally for people with Burkitt lymphoma:
- around 55 in 100 people (around 55%) will survive 5 years or more after their diagnosis
This is for all ages. Younger people tend to do better than older people.
For those younger than 40:
Almost 90 out of 100 (almost 90%) will survive their lymphoma for 5 years or more after diagnosis
For those aged between 40 and 59:
More than 50 out of 100 (more than 50%) will survive their lymphoma for 5 years or more after diagnosis
For those who are 60 or older:
30 out of 100 (30%) will survive their lymphoma for 5 years or more after they are diagnosed
These are fast growing lymphomas that develop from mature T cells.
Generally for people with peripheral T cell lymphoma:
- 35 in 100 people (35%) will survive 5 years or more after their diagnosis
This is for all types of peripheral T cell lymphoma. Survival depends on what type of peripheral T cell lymphoma you have. Statistics are available for the following types of peripheral T cell lymphomas:
- peripheral T cell lymphoma Not otherwise Specified (PTCL NOS)
- anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL)
- angioimmunoblastic T cell lymphoma (AITL)
Peripheral T Cell Lymphoma Not otherwise Specified (PTCL NOS)
Generally for people with PTCL NOS:
- around 30 in 100 people (around 30%) survive for 5 years or more
Anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL)
Some anaplastic large cell lymphomas (ALCLs) make a protein called ‘anaplastic lymphoma kinase’ (ALK). These are called ALK-positive ALCL. If your ALCL doesn’t make ALK it is called ALK-negative ALCL. This affects your outlook (prognosis).
Generally for people with ALK positive ALCL:
- 80 in 100 people (80%) survive for 5 years or more
Generally for people with ALK negative ALCL:
- around 45 in 100 people (around 45%) survive for 5 years or more
Angioimmunoblastic T cell lymphoma (AITL)
Generally for people with angioimmunoblastic T cell lymphoma (AITL):
- around 30 in 100 people (around 30%) survive for 5 years or more
Haematological Malignancy Research Network (HMRN)
Accessed April 2024
These statistics are for relative survival. Relative survival takes into account that some people will die of causes other than cancer. This gives a more accurate picture of cancer survival.
Doctors use the International Classification of Diseases for Oncology, third edition (ICD-O-3) to categorise tumours. They use it to code the site of the tumour (where it is in the body) and the sub type (what the cells look like under the microscope - histology or morphology). These survival statistics are for the following ICD-O-3 codes:
- diffuse large B cell lymphoma 9680/3
- Burkitt lymphoma 9687/3
- peripheral T cell lymphomas 9702/3, 9705/3, 9714/3, 9716/3, 9717/3, 9719/3, 9827/3
Survival for skin Lymphoma
Skin (cutaneous) lymphoma is a rare type of NHL. There are different types of skin lymphomas. Most are slow growing (low grade) but some can be fast growing (high grade).
There are no UK-wide survival statistics available for all the different types and stages of skin lymphoma. Survival statistics are available for the following types of skin lymphoma:
- all types of cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTCL)
- mycosis fungoides, which is a type of CTCL
These statistics are for people in one area of England diagnosed between 2010 and 2019.
Generally, for people with CTCL:
- around 65 in 100 people (around 65%) survive 5 years or more after diagnosis
Mycosis fungoides is a very slow growing (low grade) type of skin lymphoma. Generally, for people with mycosis fungoides:
- almost 80 in 100 people (almost 80%) survive 5 years or more after diagnosis
Haematological Malignancy Research Network (HMRN)
Accessed May 2024
These statistics are for relative survival. Relative survival takes into account that some people will die of causes other than cancer. This gives a more accurate picture of cancer survival.
Doctors use the International Classification of Diseases for Oncology, third edition (ICD-O-3) to categorise tumours. They use it to code the site of the tumour (where it is in the body) and the sub type (what the cells look like under the microscope - histology or morphology). These survival statistics are for the following ICD-O-3 codes:
- Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas 9700/3, 9701/3, 9709/3, 9718/3, 9726/3
What affects survival
Your outcome depends on the stage of the lymphoma when it was diagnosed. The stage tells you about the number and places in the body that are affected by lymphoma.
The type and grade also affects your likely survival. Grade is very important. It means how abnormal the cells look under the microscope. Low grade lymphomas tend to grow slower than high grade lymphomas.
A number of other factors also affect your outlook.
Follicular Lymphoma International Prognostic Index (FLIPI)
For follicular lymphoma, doctors use a scale called the Follicular Lymphoma International Prognostic Index (FLIPI). It has 5 prognostic factors that doctors use to plan treatment and predict how people may respond to treatment. These 5 factors are:
- being older than 60 years
- having stage 3 or 4 follicular lymphoma
- having a low red blood cell (haemoglobin) level
- having more than 4 areas of lymph nodes affected with lymphoma
- a higher than normal blood level of an enzyme called LDH (serum lactate dehydrogenase)
If you have no poor prognostic factors you have a score of 0. People with all of the poor prognostic factors have a score of 5. The doctor uses this score to divide people with follicular lymphoma into 3 groups:
- low risk if you have no or 1 poor prognostic factor
- intermediate (moderate) risk if you have 2 poor prognostic factors
- high risk, if you have 3 or more poor prognostic factors
Prognostic index for diffuse large B cell lymphoma
For diffuse large B cell lymphoma, doctors group these factors together to make a prognostic index. A prognostic index is a way of trying to decide who has a greater risk of their lymphoma coming back after treatment.
This scale is only for people with diffuse large B cell lymphomas – not for people with low grade lymphomas.
To work out the prognostic index, you score one point for each of the following:
- aged over 60
- stage 3 or 4 lymphoma at diagnosis
- a higher than normal blood level of an enzyme called LDH (lactate dehydrogenase)
- performance status of more than 2 (see below)
- non-Hodgkin lymphoma in more than one site outside your lymphatic system (in your bones, for example)
Performance status is a scoring system that describes how well you are and how much you can look after yourself.
0 means you are fully active and well. Your performance status will be more than 2 if you need to stay in bed or a chair for more than half the day and need a lot of help to look after yourself.
If you have no poor prognostic factors you have a score of 0. People with all of the poor prognostic factors have a score of 5.
- A score of 0 or 1 means you are more likely to respond well to treatment, and your lymphoma is unlikely to come back.
- A score of 2 means you are at moderately low risk of your lymphoma coming back.
- A score of 3 means you have a moderately high risk of the lymphoma coming back.
- A score of 4 or 5 means you are at a higher than average risk of not responding to treatment, or of having your lymphoma come back after treatment.
Both indexes was created before doctors used rituximab to treat lymphoma. Rituximab has improved treatment for many people with NHL. Doctors generally still think these indexes are useful tools to help plan treatment and predict outcome.
