What is stage 2 Hodgkin's lymphoma?

Stage 2 Hodgkin’s lymphoma is an early stage of this cancer. Healthcare professionals describe Hodgkin’s lymphoma as stage 2 when a person has cancer in two or more lymph node groups, either below or above their diaphragm, which is a muscle under the lungs.

They may describe Hodgkin’s lymphoma as stage 2E when cancer spreads outside of a lymph node group to a nearby organ or area.

At stage 2, healthcare professionals may refer to a person’s cancer as “bulky lymphoma” if their tumor is large. They may also categorize stage 2 Hodgkin’s lymphoma as favorable or unfavorable.

Favorable stage 2 Hodgkin’s lymphoma does not have any of the following risk factors that increase the chance of cancer recurring after treatment:

• cancer in organs beyond the lymph nodes
• cancer in three or more lymph nodes
• B symptoms, which include:
  • unexplained fever
  • unexplained weight loss
  • night sweats
• a chest tumor of at least 10 centimeters or spanning over a third of the chest’s width
• a high sedimentation rate, which is when red blood cells in a blood sample settle to the bottom of a test tube more quickly than expected

Someone with unfavorable stage 2 Hodgkin’s lymphoma will have one or more of the above risk factors.

Knowing the stage of a person’s cancer will help their healthcare team plan suitable treatment. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), treatment for unfavorable stage 2 Hodgkin’s lymphoma may be more intense than that of favorable stage 2.

Other factors, such as age, overall health, and medical history, may also influence a person’s treatment plan.

The ACS suggests that treatment for stage 2 Hodgkin’s lymphoma typically starts with chemotherapy. Other parts of a treatment plan may include:

• chemotherapy using different drugs
• radiation therapy
• stem cell transplants
• immunotherapy

A 2023 review suggests that early stage Hodgkin’s lymphoma, which involves stage 2, is highly curable. However, the review highlights the importance of reducing the late adverse side effects of cancer treatments.

People with stage 2 Hodgkin’s lymphoma can speak with their healthcare team for more information about their treatment plan and how treatment may affect their outlook.