Google Search doesn't have personal symptoms, but lymphoma's first signs often include painless swelling of lymph nodes (neck, armpit, groin), unexplained fatigue, drenching night sweats, or unexplained weight loss, though symptoms vary widely from itchy skin to coughs and fevers. Because these symptoms can mimic other conditions, it's important to see a doctor if you experience persistent issues.
Here, we describe a case of a young 28-year-old female with large B-cell lymphoma who remained undiagnosed for a long time owing to a myriad of nonspecific presentation including “wheezing.” Although primary laryngeal lymphomas constitute a diagnostic challenge since they are rare, one should have a high index of ...
The most common early symptom is swollen lymph nodes in your neck, upper chest, armpit, belly or groin.
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.
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.
a painless lump or swelling, usually in your neck, armpit or groin – this is the most common symptom.
Symptoms from lymphoma in the abdomen
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.
These may be subtle and are often the first indications of lymphoma:
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.
Some infections can cause symptoms similar to lymphoma:
Complete blood count (CBC) abnormalities can occur with multiple complications of lymphoma and should be obtained in the workup of probable lymphoma. However, many patients with lymphoma, even aggressive lymphoma, will have a normal CBC and this should not be considered evidence against a lymphoma diagnosis.
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)
A hematologist-oncologist (an expert in blood cancers) can accurately diagnose lymphoma and recommend lymphoma treatments.
The most common features of Hodgkin's lymphoma include fever, weight loss, night sweats, dry or productive cough, dyspnoea, haemoptysis, chest pain or stridor. Immunohistochemistry is required in most cases for confirmatory diagnosis.
Extranodal natural killer (NK) T-cell lymphoma, nasal type, often causes a blocked nose, bloody nasal discharge, swelling of the cheek, sore throat, hoarseness, fever and weight loss.
Other symptoms
A specific type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma called Waldenström macroglobulinaemia causes changes in your blood which can lead to: headaches and dizziness.
These three symptoms, called B symptoms, are also symptoms of lymphoma:
Lump on neck
Most thyroid lumps are benign, but they can form rapidly so it is important to see your provider for regular examinations. Cancerous lumps are hard and painless. They might seem to appear overnight and grow with time.
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.
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).
A biopsy is the only way to definitively diagnose lymphoma. This is the gold standard diagnostic test for both Hodgkin's lymphoma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Night sweats, persistent fevers and unexplained weight loss are three of the most common symptoms of lymphoma, whether they stem from Hodgkin lymphoma or non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
MALT lymphoma most often develops in the stomach and is called gastric MALT lymphoma. Symptoms of gastric MALT lymphoma include: indigestion or heartburn.
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.
Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) Test. High levels of LDH can be a sign of tissue damage or breakdown of white or red blood cells, which may be related to lymphoma.