4. The Final Stage of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
Reaching stage 4 of Hodgkin’s lymphoma indicates the most advanced stage of the disease. In this stage, the lymphoma has disseminated widely into at least one organ outside of the lymphatic system. This could mean the disease has invaded critical organs like the liver, lungs, bone marrow, or others.
The symptomatology in stage 4 is generally more diverse and severe. ‘B symptoms,’ including significant weight loss, severe night sweats, and recurrent fevers, become a common occurrence.
New symptoms may also arise depending on which organs are affected. Patients might experience itching all over the body, lower back pain, breathlessness, and other symptoms, adding to the disease’s debilitating nature.
While stage 4 represents the most severe progression of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, it is vital to remember that recovery is still possible. Aggressive treatment, including combinations of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and potentially targeted therapies, can still work towards disease control and remission. In certain scenarios, high-dose chemotherapy followed by a stem cell transplant might be the recommended course of action, depending on the patient’s overall health and the disease’s progression. (4)
