[22]
What are the symptoms, how do you know you have it?
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma can cause a variety of symptoms. Symptoms depend on what area of the body is affected by the cancer and how fast the cancer is growing. Symptoms of NHL may appear suddenly or may develop gradually over a long period of time. Because lymph nodes and lymphatic tissue occur throughout the body, non-Hodgkin's lymphomas can occur in many places and in many forms, some of which produce no symptoms at all. Nevertheless, about two-thirds of adults diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) notice swollen, painless lymph nodes in the armpit, groin, near the collarbone, or in some area of the neck, including the back of the neck. Sometimes a node may rupture and weep. In children, NHLs most commonly develop outside of lymph nodes, such as within the abdomen or jaw. Signs and symptoms of NHL include the following:
- It's not unusual for two or more nodes in different or distant areas of the body to swell simultaneously. Swollen nodes may appear in the following areas:
- Within the abdomen, where they may or may not be noticed by the patient, but may cause nausea and vomiting, a feeling of fullness after eating even small amounts of food, diarrhea, a feeling of constipation, intestinal blockage, mild or severe back pain, pressure on the bladder, ovaries, or uterus.
- Within the chest, possibly causing shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, coughing, chest pain, pressure under the rib cage, or swelling of the face, neck veins, or arm.
- Within the elbow or knee, most noticeable as a lump that may swell and recede.
- Within bone marrow, causing bone pain, minute fractures, or aberrant blood values. Rarely, NHL may begin within bone as opposed to marrow.
- Within the kidneys, possibly causing headache, high blood pressure, frequent urination, difficult urination, excessive night-time urination, or back or flank pain.
- Within the central nervous system, causing headache, vision disturbances, dizziness, light-headedness, true spinning vertigo, numbness, tingling, or cognitive disturbances such as memory loss or confusion.
- Within the breast, noticeable as a lump or swelling, or unusual enlargement of one or both breasts, particularly during pregnancy.
- On the skin, manifesting as oozing, scaling, discoloured lumps, or unusually easy bruising. For some of the cutaneous NHLs, these symptoms may regress and return for years.
- Within a testicle, causing swelling.
- Within the eye, causing a feeling of pressure or a protrusion of the eye.
- Within the liver or spleen, causing aberrations of blood values.
- Within the throat, nose, jaw, or upper chest, causing pain, nasal stuffiness, ear pain, hearing loss, ringing in the ears, or difficulty breathing or swallowing.[11]
- Unexplained weight loss
- Fever and chills that come and go
- Night sweats (soaking the bedsheets and pyjamas even though the room temperature is not too hot)
- Coughing, trouble breathing, or chest pain. Coughing or shortness of breath may occur if the cancer affects the thymus gland or lymph nodes in the chest, which may put pressure on the windpipe (trachea) or other airways
- Weakness and tiredness that don't go away (fatigue).
- Abdominal pain or swelling, or a feeling of fullness in the abdomen. Some patients may have abdominal pain or swelling, which may lead to a loss of appetite, constipation, nausea, and vomiting.
- Persistent itching of the skin all over the body.
- If the cancer affects cells in the brain, the person may have a headache, concentration problems, personality changes, or seizures.[12]
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| swollen at the back of the neck. [23] |
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| Non-hodgkin's lymphoma [24] |
