Lymphoma Symptoms

The survival of cancer patients would largely depend on early detection. Breast cancer and prostate cancer are two of the types of cancer that are considered easy to treat if discovered early. This is due to the fact that the cancer is usually localized or the cancer has developed in one area. The same thing is true with lymphoma. Early detection of the lymphoma symptoms considerably increases the rate of survival.

Most common lymphoma symptoms:

• Swollen lymph nodes. Enlarged lymph nodes in the neck, in the armpit and groin are the first signs of this type of cancer. Most often these lumps are painless. The pain differentiates lymphoma from an infected lymph node as in the latter, the swelling is accompanied by pain
• Excessive weight loss. Dramatic weight loss that would occur rapidly for an unknown reason. Lymphoma affects any system of the body. When the digestive system is affected, the food is not properly absorbed by the body thus weight loss would result.
• Fever – Recurring fever that is not associated with chest or urinary infection. Fever may be due to the effect of lymphoma to the immune system
• Excessive night sweat- this is a tell-tale sign of lymphoma. You may find yourself drenched in sweat without any obvious reason
• Itchiness deep in the skin is due to the special chemicals secreted by the lymphoma cells
• Loss of appetite. A lot of people with lymphomas would turn away from food when the lymphoma spreads within the body
• Fatigue. The growing cancer cells use up the nutrients of the body leaving the afflicted person weak
• Breathlessness. A growing lymphoma in the neck or chest would block blood vessels resulting to swollen face and neck as well as breathlessness.
• Back pain. This would result when the growing lymph nodes compresses and puts pressures on the nerves.
Lymphoma symptoms are very similar to other conditions. After conducting a physical examination, the doctor may order x-rays to be done to further diagnose the existence of lymphoma.