You can have lymphoma for months to years without knowing, especially with slow-growing (indolent) types, as it may cause few or no symptoms, or subtle ones like slow, painless swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, or night sweats that mimic other issues. Some low-grade lymphomas are even monitored for years before treatment begins, while aggressive types grow quickly and present more obvious signs.
Symptoms
An enlarged spleen might press on the stomach, which can cause a loss of appetite and feeling full after only a small meal. Lymphomas in the stomach or intestines can cause abdominal pain, nausea, or vomiting.
Most types of lymphoma can't be diagnosed by a blood test alone. However, most people affected by lymphoma will have blood tests as part of their diagnosis and frequently throughout treatment. You continue to have blood tests, though less frequently, after treatment during follow-up.
Night sweats, persistent fevers and unexplained weight loss are three of the most common lymphoma symptoms. Symptoms can appear with any type of lymphoma, but they're more commonly seen in advanced, fast-growing blood cancers.
Lymphoma can cause a variety of symptoms depending on the type and location of the disease. The most common sign is painless swelling of lymph nodes, often in the neck, armpit, or groin, which may feel firm or rubbery.
Indolent lymphoma, also known as low-grade lymphoma, is a group of slow-growing non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHLs). Because they spread slowly, they tend to have fewer signs and symptoms when first diagnosed and may not require immediate treatment.
Diagnosis of lymphoma often begins with a physical exam. This exam checks for swollen lymph nodes in the neck, underarms and groin and an enlarged spleen or liver. Other tests and procedures include blood tests, imaging tests and taking a sample of tissue for lab testing.
Having a high white blood cell count (15,000 or higher). Having a low lymphocyte count (below 600 or less than 8% of the white blood cell count).
In lymphomas, elevated CRP levels reflect increase in inflammatory cytokines, particularly Interleukin-6 (IL-6), which are associated with malignant processes. IL6 induces the production of CRP by the liver. In HL patients, this cytokine is produced by the cells of the lymphoma.
Bowel problems such as diarrhoea, constipation and wind (flatulence) can happen with lymphoma and its treatment for a number of reasons, including: the effects of the lymphoma itself.
While stress can impact overall health, there is no direct evidence linking stress alone to the development of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The disease's causes are multifactorial, involving genetic, environmental, and immune system factors.
NHL most often affects adults, but children can get it too. See Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma in Children. NHL usually starts in lymph nodes or other lymph tissue, but it can sometimes affect the skin.
Some infections can cause symptoms similar to lymphoma:
The lymph nodes act like filters and trap infected material. The infected material can make the nodes enlarge. The cause of lymphoma is still not known, but it is not considered hereditary. Most lymphomas occur between the ages of 40 and 70 years.
What are the common chest symptoms caused by lymphoma? Swollen lymph nodes in the chest can cause symptoms such as: dry cough. shortness of breath.
Markers and Indicators in Blood Tests
These markers can include the following: High levels of Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) can indicate tissue damage. Rapidly growing cancer cells can cause an increase in the enzyme levels. Elevated levels of Beta-2 Microglobulin are often found in people with lymphoma.
Signs and Symptoms of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
Signs are observable or measurable by a doctor, such as a fever or high blood pressure. Non-Hodgkin and Hodgkin lymphomas share many signs and symptoms. Some of the symptoms — fever, night sweats, and unexplained weight loss — are called B symptoms.
The most common symptom of lymphoma is a painless swelling or lump in the neck, armpit or groin. This is caused by lymphoma cells building up in the lymph nodes, which makes them bigger.
Lymph tissue is in many parts of your body, so Hodgkin lymphoma can start almost anywhere, but:
An ultrasound scan (sometimes called a sonogram) uses soundwaves to take pictures inside your body. You might have an ultrasound scan if you have lymphoma, or your doctor suspects you could have lymphoma. This could be to: examine lymph nodes that are near the surface of your skin.
A hematologist-oncologist (an expert in blood cancers) can accurately diagnose lymphoma and recommend lymphoma treatments.
Lymphoma's exact cause is often unknown, but it develops from genetic damage to lymphocytes (white blood cells), leading to uncontrolled growth, with risk factors including a weakened immune system (from diseases or medications), certain viral/bacterial infections (like Epstein-Barr, HIV, H. pylori), family history, exposure to specific chemicals (benzene, pesticides), radiation, and lifestyle factors like smoking, notes Cancer Council.
Overall, the chance that a man will develop NHL in his lifetime is about 1 in 44; for a woman, the risk is about 1 in 54. But each person's risk can be affected by a number of risk factors. NHL can occur at any age.
Benign lymphoma, also called pseudolymphoma or benign lymphoid hyperplasia, is a rare noncancerous (benign) tumor made up of lymphocytes. Unlike other types of lymphoma, benign lymphoma is not cancer. Benign lymphoma may also be called follicular lymphoid hyperplasia or reactive lymphoid hyperplasia.