Researchers believe the itchiness is caused by cytokines, which are chemicals released by the body's immune system in response to lymphoma. Cytokines can irritate nerve endings in the skin, which can in turn cause persistent itching.
Skin irritations and problems such as dry, sore and itchy skin can be a symptom of lymphoma. Skin problems often start to go away once treatment for lymphoma starts. However, they can be a side effect of treatment and can develop during, or even after, treatment.
Lymphoma can cause itchy skin. If you have skin lymphoma, you might have symptoms that affect your skin. Common symptoms depend on the type of skin lymphoma, but could include: lumps, which are often a purple colour.
For most patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma or CTCL, itchiness, also known as pruritus, can range in degree from a minor irritation to a tormenting sensation that can significantly decrease an individual's quality of life.
Many individuals experience this itchiness in their hands, lower legs or feet, while others feel it throughout their entire body. Patients often report that the itching tends to worsen while they are lying in bed at night.
Lymphoma can sometimes cause an itchy rash. Rashes are most commonly seen in lymphomas of the skin. They may appear as reddish or purple scaly areas. These rashes often occur in skin folds and can be easily confused with other conditions like eczema.
Lymphoma can cause a person to feel exceedingly itchy. This itchiness tends to be worse at night, when the person is lying in bed, and in some cases it can lead to an unpleasant burning sensation. In some instances, the itchiness may be accompanied by a rash, while at other times there will be no rash present at all.
The lesions are often itchy, scaly, and red to purple. The lymphoma might show up as more than one type of lesion and on different parts of the skin (often in areas not exposed to the sun). Some skin lymphomas appear as a rash over some or most of the body (known as erythroderma).
Severe intractable itch has been reported in lymphoma patients. Some of the most severe pruritic cases in our practice suffer from lymphoma.
Swollen lymph nodes, a fever and night sweats may also be symptoms of the cold and flu. However, unlike the cold and flu, non-Hodgkin lymphoma symptoms typically do not go away. If you have symptoms that persist for more than two weeks, or symptoms are recurring and becoming more intense, you should see your doctor.
They can help to reduce itching, but don't work for everyone. Your doctor can prescribe antihistamines. There are many different types and they may give you some relief. They tend not to work so well for itching caused by lymphoma or due to jaundice caused by a blocked bile duct.
Common symptoms of having lymphoma include swelling of lymph nodes in your neck, in your armpits or your groin. This is often but not always painless and often could be associated with fevers, or unexplained weight loss, or drenching night sweats, sometimes chills, persistent fatigue.
When dealing with lymphoma, these symptoms may come and go and are sometimes referred to as 'B symptoms. ' These symptoms can include a persistent, chronic fever; unintended weight loss, and excessive sweating, especially at night (night sweats).
They are often diagnosed early, grow slowly and respond well to treatment. Any skin problems they cause come and go and only need treatment some of the time. Some low-grade lymphomas do not become obvious until they are more advanced and the disease has spread to the lymph nodes, blood or internal organs.
Blood tests measure the amounts of certain types of cells and chemicals in the blood. They are not used to diagnose lymphoma, but they can sometimes help determine how advanced the lymphoma is.
Many types of CTCL start as flat red patches on the skin, which can sometimes be itchy. With darker skin, the patches may appear lighter or darker than the surrounding skin. In the early stages, the skin patches can look like other common conditions such as eczema or psoriasis.
Some lymphomas grow faster and require specific treatment. Classifying them is complex because many kinds of lymphocyte cells can be involved. These grow so slowly that patients can live for many years mostly without symptoms, although some may experience pain from an enlarged lymph gland.
Symptoms. Burkitt lymphoma grows very rapidly, which means that symptoms usually develop quickly, over just a few days or weeks. The most common symptom is one or more lumps, which often develop in several parts of your body. These are swollen lymph nodes.
Sometimes, people with follicular lymphoma have no symptoms for many years and do not need treatment. Some may never need treatment. In other people, treatment may be required for symptoms.
Swollen lymph nodes, fever, and night sweats are common symptoms of lymphoma. Symptoms of lymphoma often depend on the type you have, what organs are involved, and how advanced your disease is. Some people with lymphoma will experience obvious signs of the disease, while others won't notice any changes.
Signs and Symptoms
NHL is a disease that usually comes on suddenly and gets worse quickly. Symptoms vary depending on where tumor(s) are. These are the most common locations and their symptoms: Abdomen – pain, swelling, fever, anemia, tiredness, weight loss, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and irregular periods.
Lymphomas can start anywhere in the body where lymph tissue is found. The major sites of lymph tissue are: Lymph nodes: Lymph nodes are bean-sized collections of lymphocytes and other immune system cells throughout the body, including inside the chest, abdomen, and pelvis.