Stage I. Hodgkin’s lymphoma is considered to be at stage I when one of the following factors is present

• The cancer is found in only one lymph node area such as the neck, armpit or groin.
  
  
• The cancer is found in only one area of a single organ outside of the lymph system (IE).

Stage II. Hodgkin’s lymphoma is considered to be at stage II when one of the following factors is present:

• The cancer is found in two or more lymph node areas on the same side (above or below) of the diaphragm (the muscle that separates the chest and abdominal cavities, and aids breathing).
  
  
• The cancer has spread locally from the lymph nodes into nearby tissue (IIE).

Stage III. Hodgkin’s lymphoma is considered to be at stage III when one of the following factors is present:

• The cancer is found in lymph node areas on both sides (above and below) of the diaphragm.
  
  
• The cancer may have spread into an organ or area next to the lymph node (IIIE), into the spleen (IIIS), or both (IIISE).

Stage IV. Hodgkin’s lymphoma is considered to be at stage IV when one of the following factors is present:

• The cancer has extended to more than one area in an organ or to two or more organs outside of the lymph system.
  
  
• The cancer has extended to only one organ outside of the lymph system, but lymph nodes far from the organ are involved.

These stages may be further separated into “A” (symptoms are not present) and “B” (certain symptoms are present) categories. A patient is placed in the “B” category when the following symptoms are present:

• A loss of more than 10 percent of total body weight over the previous six months.
  
  
• A fever at or above 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) without a known cause (except the cancer).
  
  
• Drenching night sweats.

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), five-year relative survival rates based on stage are: