Anaplastic large cell lymphoma

The chance of surviving anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) is different for every person. Your personal prognosis may depend on:

• Your age.
• Whether your cancer makes the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) protein.
• The type of anaplastic large cell lymphoma you have.
• Whether certain gene changes are present in your cancer.
• The stage of your cancer.

To understand anaplastic large cell lymphoma survival rates, experts study many people with ALCL to see how many are living five years after diagnosis.

• ALK-positive ALCL. Studies of the five-year overall survival rate for this type have found rates between 70% and 86%. Younger people often have excellent long-term survival. Older adults or people with advanced cancer have poorer survival rates.
• ALK-negative ALCL. Studies of the five-year overall survival rate for this type have found rates between 30% and 49%. With this type, the presence of certain gene changes can affect your prognosis.
• Primary cutaneous ALCL. Studies of the five-year overall survival rate for this type have found rates between 81% and 90%.
• Breast implant-associated ALCL. When treated early with surgery, the five-year survival rate is about 89%.

Keep in mind that survival statistics take five years to collect. The most recent survival rates include people who had anaplastic large cell lymphoma treatment more than five years ago. They may not have had access to the latest treatments.