early diagnosis of lymphoma can be challenging.
Lymphoma symptoms
early diagnosis of lymphoma can be challenging. early symptoms may be absent or fairly mild. symptoms of lymphoma are also nonspecific. common symptoms are easy to overlook or overlook. they include:
- fatigue
- night sweats
- chills
- fever
- unexplained weight loss
- itching
Fatigue
fatigue as well as a lack of energy and interest can be symptoms of lymphoma.
however, fatigue can also be a sign of lack of sleep or poor diet. persistent fatigue is something you should discuss with your doctor. even if it is not caused by lymphoma, it can be a sign of another disease that needs to be treated.
it is estimated that almost everyone with cancer will feel fatigued. it is considered to be the most common symptom of lymphoma. depending on the individual, fatigue can be mild or severe.
night sweats, chills, and fever
fever is a natural response to infection, but can also be a sign of advanced lymphoma. most lymphoma-associated fevers are relatively low-grade. they are often accompanied by chills.
if you have a fever while you sleep, night sweats may appear. intense night sweats associated with lymphoma can wake you up wet with wet sheets. sometimes I sweat too much during the day.
you should repeatedly tell your doctor about any unexplained fever for two weeks. they can be a sign of lymphoma.
Unexplained weight loss
sudden, unexplained weight loss of 10% or more may be a sign of lymphoma. as with other lymphoma symptoms, this can also be caused by other medical conditions.
with lymphoma, when your body tries to fight these cells, the cancer cells consume more of your body's energy resources. this can lead to sudden weight loss, especially since many lymphomas usually grow rapidly.
you should discuss any extensive and unintentional weight loss with your doctor. this can be a sign of serious health problems. if you've lost 5% of your weight in a month or 10% in six months, make an appointment with a doctor.
Rash and itching
lymphoma can sometimes cause an itchy rash. skin rashes are most common in cutaneous lymphoma. they may appear as reddish or purple scaly areas.
these rashes usually occur in the folds of the skin and are easily confused with other diseases such as eczema. they can spread as lymphoma progresses. lymphoma can also form lumps or nodules within the skin.
about one-third of Hodgkin lymphoma patients will feel itchy. however, this condition is less common in patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. itching can occur without a rash.
it is believed that chemicals called cytokines are released to fight cancer cells and help make the skin itchy. if any rash does not resolve spontaneously after two weeks, you should see a doctor for further evaluation.
Chest pain or low back pain
the thymus gland is a small, pilosebaceous organ located between the sternum and the lungs behind it. it is part of your immune system. occasionally, lymphoma affects the thymus gland, which can lead to chest pain.
rarely, lymphoma can affect lymph nodes located in the lower back. the swelling there can put pressure on the nerves in the spinal cord. however, there are many more likely causes of low back pain than lymphoma.
you should contact your doctor about ongoing pain in any part of your body.
Type of lymphoma
SUBTYPES OF LYMPHOMA FALL INTO TWO BROAD CATEGORIES: HODGKIN LYMPHOMA AND NON-HODGKIN LYMPHOMA (NHL). THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THESE TWO CATEGORIES IS THE DEVELOPMENT, SPREAD, AND TREATMENT OF THE CANCER.
NHL is more common, accounting for 4% of all cancers in the United States.
lymphoma directly affects the lymphatic system, which includes many parts of the body. it can affect various parts of the body containing lymphoid tissue, such as:
- lymph nodes and lymphatic vessels
- skin
- spleen
- thymus gland
- tonsils
- stomach
- colon
- small intestine
- bone marrow
- rectum
- adenoids
Where to find
THE FIRST VISIBLE SIGN OF POSSIBLE LYMPHOMA IS USUALLY A SWOLLEN LYMPH NODE. LYMPH NODES MAY BE TENDER OR EVEN PAINFUL. HOWEVER, MANY PEOPLE ARE NOT SUFFERING. NHL IS MORE LIKELY TO CAUSE PAINLESS SWELLING.
lymph nodes are widely distributed throughout the body. some are deep, while others are fairly close to the surface. swelling may be more pronounced in more superficial areas. these include lymph nodes in the armpits, neck, and groin.
a lump in one of these sites does not necessarily indicate lymphoma. lymphadenopathy is more likely to be caused by infection than cancer.
for example, swelling of lymph nodes in the neck is often associated with an infection of the throat. lymphocytes or white blood cells flood the lymph nodes during infection.
swelling of the axillary or abdominal lymph nodes requires immediate attention. they are unlikely to be associated with a temporary infection.
Symptoms in children
lymphoma may look different in children than in adults. symptoms may vary depending on the location of the lymphoma in the body.
some of the typical symptoms of lymphoma in adults may also affect children. these include:
- lymphadenopathy or swelling, which may or may not be painful
- fever
- weight loss
- night sweats
- fatigue
however, children may also have other symptoms. common symptoms in children with lymphoma include:
- swollen abdomen
- abdominal pain
- ・feeling very full after eating very little
- cough or shortness of breath
if your child is frequently infected or develops any of these symptoms, see a doctor for an examination.
while most of these signs are more likely to be the result of other conditions and conditions, it is still important to get your child tested.
Diagnosis
if you develop symptoms similar to lymphoma, your doctor will perform tests to determine the underlying cause. if you have lymphoma, your doctor will diagnose the condition and then determine how far it has progressed.
they may have initial blood tests to look for abnormalities, including abnormal red blood cell and white blood cell counts. if your lymph nodes are enlarged, they may also take tissue samples or biopsies from the lymph nodes to look for cancer cells.
if your doctor suspects that lymphoma has spread or may be present in your bone marrow, they may ask for a bone marrow biopsy. this process is done under local anesthesia. the bone marrow is removed from the bone through a hollow needle.
your doctor may also use the following tests to get an internal view of your chest, abdomen, or pelvis. these include:
- ultrasound
- · CT SCAN
- positron scanning
- nuclear magnetic resonance
these tests will help your doctor look for abnormal lymph nodes and tumors and allow them to assess the condition of organs and tissues.
Treatment
lymphoma treatment will depend on what type of lymphoma you have, where it is located, and how well it progresses.
chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiation therapy are commonly used to treat many types of lymphoma. these treatments all focus on killing cancer cells and shrinking the size of the tumor.
sometimes, bone marrow transplants can be used to replace diseased bone marrow so that the body can produce the healthy blood cells it needs.
in rare cases, your doctor may recommend surgery. surgery is more common when the lymphoma has not yet spread and begins from a body part such as the spleen, stomach, or thyroid.
summary
your prospects depend largely on the type of lymphoma you have and how much progress you have at the time of diagnosis. other factors, such as age, can also affect prospects. for example, people under the age of 60 generally have better survival rates.
The overall 5-year survival rate for NHL is 71%. However, much also depends on your overall health, the type and stage of cancer, and how you respond to treatment.
q&a: men and women
q:
is there a difference between male and female lymphomas?
A:
NHL is the most common classification of lymphomas, more common in men, but better in women.
TYPICAL EARLY SYMPTOMS SUCH AS FATIGUE, NIGHT SWEATS, AND SWOLLEN LYMPH NODES ARE SIMILAR IN BOTH MEN AND WOMEN. OUTSIDE THE LYMPHATIC SYSTEM, THE GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT, HEAD AND NECK, AND SKIN ARE THE MOST COMMON SITES FOR MEN AND WOMEN. HOWEVER, LYMPHOMAS INVOLVING THE BREAST, THYROID, AND RESPIRATORY SYSTEMS ARE MORE COMMON IN WOMEN. FEMALE BREAST LYMPHOMA AND MALE TESTICULAR LYMPHOMA ARE EXTREMELY RARE, ACCOUNTING FOR ONLY 1-2% OF ALL NHL CASES.
when it comes to the treatment of lymphoma, women seem to have better outcomes than men. in fact, except for bladder cancer, women do better in the treatment and survival of all common cancers. this is especially true for women under the age of 55. the difference in prospects for female and male cancer patients, including lymphoma, is unclear. research continues on this topic.
the answers represent the opinions of our medical experts. all content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice.