Symptoms of lymphoma often depend on the type you have, what organs are involved, and how advanced your disease is. Recognizing the symptoms of lymphoma can improve your chances of receiving a timely diagnosis and prompt treatment. The two main types of lymphoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma NHL and Hodgkin lymphoma, can both cause swollen or enlarged lymph nodes.
Your lymph nodes are part of your immune system and work by helping to circulate lymph fluid, which contains immune cells, throughout your body. NHLs that start in the abdomen can cause your spleen or liver to enlarge, which can lead to swelling or pain in that area. If the cancer affects your stomach or intestines, it can cause nausea or vomiting. Lymphomas that press on the superior vena cava, a large vein in your upper chest, can cause trouble breathing; a change in consciousness; or swelling in the neck, head, or arms.
If the lymphoma affects your brain, it can spark headaches, trouble thinking, personality changes, weakness, or seizures. When these cancers travel to areas around the brain or spinal cord, they can trigger many neurologic issues, including double vision, trouble speaking, and facial numbness.
NHLs that start in your skin can cause itchy, red or purple bumps to form. If a lymphoma affects lymph nodes in your chest, you might experience coughing, chest pain, or trouble breathing, especially when lying down. Doctors commonly group specific signs of lymphoma together and label them B symptoms.
Classifying these symptoms can help physicians give you a more accurate prognosis. Many symptoms of lymphoma are also present in other, less serious illnesses, such as an infection like the flu or a common cold. Back to Hodgkin lymphoma. The most common symptom of Hodgkin lymphoma is a swelling in the neck, armpit or groin. The swelling is usually painless, although some people find that it aches. The swelling is caused by an excess of affected lymphocytes white blood cells collecting in a lymph node also called lymph glands.
Lymph nodes are pea-sized lumps of tissue found throughout the body. They contain white blood cells that help to fight infection. However, it's highly unlikely that you have Hodgkin lymphoma if you have swollen lymph nodes , as these glands often swell as a response to infection. When the immune system is alerted, the lymph nodes in the area closest to the infection can grow in size due to inflammation.
Therefore, usually, swollen lymph nodes are just a sign that they are working hard to get rid of an infection. In leukaemia, swollen lymph nodes are caused by a build-up of large numbers of cancerous cells which have travelled from the bone marrow. This can mean that the swollen lymph nodes can fluctuate in size, growing and shrinking over time.
My doctor asked if I had enlarged lymph nodes under my armpits or groin. I said no but he then said he could feel something and asked if I could stay for blood tests. It is important not to self-diagnose.
However, make sure to visit your doctor if you feel that the lymph nodes in your neck or armpits are protruding more than usual, are painless or have lasted longer than you would expect. Sometimes infections such as tonsillitis, ear or throat infections do require a visit to the GP if they are particularly bad.
You might be prescribed antibiotics, however, make sure to return to the GP if your symptoms do not get better. Knowing what other symptoms are typical of leukaemia is crucial for helping you make the decision to visit your GP sooner for a blood test.
Connect the dots between the symptoms of leukaemia and spot leukaemia sooner. For information on the other symptoms of leukaemia, click here. One such pain often reported to precede diagnoses of leukaemia are headaches. This leads to a delay in visiting a GP, which can delay a diagnosis, worsening the outcomes for patients. Lymphoma is cancer that starts in the lymph glands or other organs of the lymphatic system.
The lymphatic system is a network of fine vessels, glands and channels which occur throughout the body.
0コメント