The symptoms of lymphoma are often general and seem even harmless. But if these signs are present, you should see a doctor immediately. Never draw any conclusions by yourself.
Painless Lumps in the Body
These lumps can appear in the neck, groin or armpits. They are usually painless. These lumps are the result of enlarged lymph nodes. Often these lumps are the only indicator of lymphoma. When checking the other symptoms given, these lumps need to be present for the signs to be assumed as indicative of lymphoma.
Inexplicable Weight Loss
Another one of the common symptoms of lymphoma is inexplicable weight loss. In several cases, a person can lose 10 to 15 lbs over a two month period without any apparent reason. This weight loss will happen even without exercise or diet.
Fever
The node swelling is often accompanied by fever. This fever will keep recurring. Unlike ordinary fever this one isn’t related to any chest infection. If the fever isn’t associated with chest or UTI ailments, it could be due to the node swelling.
Night Sweating and Itchiness
People with lymphoma often wake in the middle of the night covered with sweat. This may be accompanied by itchiness. The itching is due to a substance secreted by the lymphoma cells.
Appetite Loss
Another symptom of lymphoma is the sudden loss of appetite. The appetite loss can lead to a loss of 10% or more of the body weight. It can be an indicator of the disease.
Fatigue, Breathlessness and Other Signs
As the cancer cells get bigger and bigger, the body experiences weakness and fatigue. There is also a feeling of shortness of breath. If the lymphoma in the neck is large, it will cause swelling on the face and the neck area. If the lymphoma is in the stomach, pain will be felt there.
Cause of Lymphoma
The cause of the disease is unknown. But there are factors that increase the risk of the disease developing. Symptoms of lymphoma may manifest if one is exposed to pesticides, solvents and water with nitrate.
Others at risk are those that take drugs that stifle the immune system. Those with autoimmune ailments like rheumatoid arthritis or lupus are also at risk.
People with AIDS are 50 times more prone to get lymphoma than those who aren’t infected. The HTLV-I and HHV-8 viruses also appear in many lymphoma cases. Because the cause is unknown, there is no way of preventing lymphoma.
Diagnosis
Biopsy is used to determine if one has lymphoma. The biopsy is performed by cutting the lymph node and examining it for cancer signs. The immunohistochemistry test is necessary to determine what type of lymphoma you have.
A bone marrow test will be conducted as well. The most common treatment is chemotherapy. Other options are surgery and radiation therapy.
As the symptoms of lymphoma are varied and similar to other diseases, having a regular checkup is necessary. It also helps if you avoid exposure to the elements that increase susceptibility to the disease.
