Lymphoma warning signs often include painless swelling of lymph nodes (neck, armpit, groin), persistent fatigue, unexplained fever, drenching night sweats, and significant weight loss, along with symptoms like persistent itching, cough, shortness of breath, abdominal pain or fullness, frequent infections, or easy bruising/bleeding, though these can vary and overlap with other conditions, so seeing a doctor for recurring symptoms is key.
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.
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.
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.
Lymphoma happens when the white blood cells in your lymphatic system change (mutate) into rapidly growing cancer cells that don't die. Like most cancers, the majority of the genetic mutations that cause lymphoma happen spontaneously, without an identifiable cause.
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.
Hodgkin lymphoma starts in the lymph nodes of the neck and spreads in an orderly fashion from the neck area down to the rest of the body. Signs of lymphoma can include: Enlarged lymph node in the neck, shoulder or chest (most common symptom)
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.
Diagnosis of lymphoma is challenging. Reactive lesions such as Kikuchi lymphadenitis, infectious mononucleosis, autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome, and immunoglobulin G4-related sclerosing disease can be misdiagnosed as lymphomas.
From the available research, there isn't strong evidence that stress can cause or worsen lymphoma or any type of cancer, or that it can make it come back (relapse).
With lymphoma, you can itch anywhere on your body, but it's common on the lower legs, hands, feet, torso (between waist and shoulders), or near affected lymph nodes, often worsening at night and without a typical rash, feeling deep and unrelieved by scratching. This itchiness is caused by immune chemicals (cytokines) irritating nerve endings, and can be a symptom of both Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Hodgkin Lymphoma Risk Factors
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.
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).
Cancer-related fatigue is exhaustion that's at a much higher level than would usually be expected. It can be physical, emotional or mental. You might feel very tired after doing quite little. Fatigue can affect different areas of your life.
Common signs and symptoms of lymphoma
While Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL) often has better overall survival rates (around 90% 5-year survival vs. NHL's ~74%) and a more predictable spread, making it highly treatable, Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) is more common, has many aggressive subtypes, and can be harder to cure, though many slow-growing NHLs behave like chronic conditions. The "worse" type depends on the specific subtype, stage, and individual factors, as NHL encompasses over 60 types, some very aggressive and others very slow-growing.
This disease is relatively rare compared to other types of cancer, but it can be diagnosed in people of all ages. Most cases are found in two specific groups: young adults between 15 and 40 years old and adults over 55.
The abnormal lymphocytes usually begin to multiply in one or more lymph nodes in a particular area of the body, such as your neck, armpit or groin. Over time, it's possible for the abnormal lymphocytes to spread into other parts of your body, such as your: bone marrow.
Some people experience lower back pain that is unexplained. It is thought that this may be caused by expanding lymph nodes pressing on nerves.
Weight loss is more common with fast-growing (high-grade) lymphomas. This is because they put a sudden energy demand on your body, as well as reducing your appetite by making you feel unwell. Lymphoma is just one of the possible causes of unexplained weight loss.
Although both diseases can be diagnosed at any age, Hodgkin lymphoma is most common in young adults ages 15 to 40 and older adults over age 55. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is typically diagnosed in adults over age 60. Some viruses may make you more likely to get both Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
The lymphatic system is an important part of the immune system and includes the various lymph glands around the body. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma most commonly occurs in a lymph node but it can also occur in the liver, spleen, stomach or bones.
Itchy skin is a common symptom of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Studies show that more than half the people who have cutaneous T-cell lymphoma develop itchy skin. Itchy skin tends to be more common if you have a: More advanced stage of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.