 |  |  | | | What happens after initial diagnosis? | | | | |
| | Waiting for treatment to begin can be a very frustrating time. Sometimes more tests have to be done to help doctors decide what will be the best treatment. These tests will almost certainly include a bone marrow biopsy, possibly for chromosome analysis. Other tests may include body imaging scans for staging lymphoma and a lumbar puncture.
  | Chromosome analysis |
Doctors can use tests on your chromosomes to identify the genetic causes of your blood cancer and help plan your treatment.
| Staging |
Staging is a description of how far a lymphoma has spread. Stage I disease is very localised whereas stage IV disease has spread beyond the lymphatic system.
| Lumbar puncture |
Lumbar puncture involves taking a sample of the fluid that surrounds your brain and spinal cord to look for cancer cells, using a needle to draw liquid from your lower back/spine. A local anaesthetic is given to reduce any discomfort.
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