What is Hodgkin's lymphoma?

Also known as Hodgkin's disease, it is an uncommon cancer that affects the organs that make white blood cells, known as the lymph system, and can spread quickly to any part of the body. In the United States, 142,000 people have the disease. It occurs mainly in young adults, with a peak occurrence between ages 16 and 34.

How is it treated?

Treatment requires chemotherapy (powerful drugs that target cancer cells) and radiation, which also destroys cancer cells. Most people have a combination of the two. A bone marrow transplant may also be used if the other treatments damage bone marrow.

What is known about the progression of Daniel Hauser's cancer?

Daniel has stage IIb lymphoma. The stages range from I to IV. Stage II means the cancer has advanced from one lymph node to two or more. The letter "b" means he has certain other symptoms, such as fever.

However, an X-ray taken on Monday showed that a tumor in his chest has worsened significantly since March, shortly after he and his parents decided to stop chemotherapy. If it spreads beyond his lymph nodes to other organs, the cure rate, even with treatment, is much lower. Brown County Judge John Rodenberg has said he would order chemotherapy for Daniel only if "it is not too late."

What are the chances for recovery?

With treatment, the overall five-year survival rate is 85 percent. Younger people generally have better outcomes than those who are older. Doctors said at Daniel Hauser's court hearing that with treatment his chances of survival are 90 to 95 percent. Without treatment, death is almost certain within five years.

Sources: National Cancer Institute, Lymphoma Research Foundation; Brown County District Court documents