It is not usually serious. Although itching is common in people with lymphoma, having itchy skin does not necessarily mean you have lymphoma. Itching affects around 1 in 3 people with Hodgkin lymphoma and 1 in 10 people with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. It can affect:. Itching in lymphoma is thought to be due to chemicals released by your immune system, as part of its reaction against the lymphoma cells. These chemicals irritate the nerves in your skin and make it itch.
Itching due to lymphoma can be severe. It may also cause a burning sensation. It is not usually associated with an obvious rash unless you have skin lymphoma. Itching can be very difficult to tolerate, especially in hot weather.
It is usually worse at night in bed. If you have a diagnosis of lymphoma and you are struggling to cope with itching, there are some things you could try that might help. Also speak to your medical team for advice. Contact your GP if you have itching that affects your whole body or lasts for more than 2 weeks. Fever is a rise in your body temperature above the normal level. It is almost always caused by an infection , but there are a few other much less common causes, including lymphoma.
Lymphoma causes fevers because the lymphoma cells produce chemicals that raise your body temperature. They usually come and go. Contact your doctor if you have a fever without an obvious infection that lasts for 2 weeks or more. Normally, white blood cells fight infections. This can make you pick up infections more easily. The infections could be more severe or last for longer than they would normally.
Infections often cause a high temperature and make you feel hot and shivery. Other symptoms depend on where in your body you have the infection — for example, you might have an earache, a cough, a sore throat, pain when you have a wee, or sickness and diarrhoea.
Any type of lymphoma can cause swollen lymph nodes in the chest but they are especially common in Hodgkin lymphoma and some types of high-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma where the cells appear to be dividing quickly. Around 1 in 2 people with Hodgkin lymphoma have swollen lymph nodes in their chest. Swollen lymph nodes in the chest can press on your airways, lungs, or blood vessels. They can also make fluid collect around your lungs. This can cause:. It is important to remember that all these symptoms can happen with many other illnesses, especially lung diseases.
Lymphoma can develop in lymph nodes in the abdomen tummy or lymphatic tissue in your liver or spleen. The gut is the most common place for extranodal lymphoma to develop. See your GP if you have blood in your poo, diarrhoea for more than 7 days, green or yellow vomit, vomiting lasting more than 2 days, or if you are dehydrated and you are unable to keep liquids down.
Swollen lymph nodes themselves are not usually painful but lymphoma can press on the tissues around the nodes and cause pain. Where you feel the pain depends on where the lymphoma is. Lymphoma in the bone itself is rare but when it does happen, it can cause pain in the affected bone. If you have skin lymphoma , you might get symptoms on your skin such as:. Lymphoma in the skin can look a lot like other skin conditions, such as eczema or psoriasis.
Skin lymphomas are usually low-grade lymphomas. Sometimes other parts of the body are also affected but for most people with skin lymphoma, it stays in the skin. If you have a diagnosis of skin lymphoma and you are finding it hard to cope with your symptoms, there are some things you could try that might help.
Contact your GP urgently if you have a rash that starts suddenly and spreads quickly, a rash that is all over your body, or a rash with other symptoms such as pain, fever or breathlessness. Lymphoma that starts in or spreads to the brain or nervous system is very uncommon but can cause symptoms such as headaches, fits seizures , memory problems, dizziness, sight problems, numbness, tingling or weakness in a limb.
Many other conditions can also cause these symptoms, such as epilepsy, migraine or stroke. Swollen lymph nodes can sometimes block the lymphatic vessels that run through the body. This may lead to:. In some cases, people with Hodgkin lymphoma experience pain in their lymph glands when they drink alcohol.
See your GP if you have any of the above symptoms, particularly if you have persistently swollen glands with no other signs of infection. While the symptoms are unlikely to be caused by Hodgkin lymphoma, it is best to get them checked out. Page last reviewed: 20 September Next review due: 20 September Read more about lumps and swellings. Other symptoms Some people with Hodgkin lymphoma also have other more general symptoms.
Many of these symptoms, particularly the swelling of lymph nodes, are often due to more common problems. Inflammation in the lymph nodes and other lymphoma-like symptoms may be caused by different types of infections, according to an article in The Oncologist.
These infections include those caused by streptococcal bacteria which causes strep throat and other illnesses and viruses like the Epstein-Barr virus which causes mononucleosis and other illnesses. Autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and Sjogren's syndrome may also cause enlarged lymph nodes. Drug hypersensitivity reactions allergic or abnormal responses to medicines may cause lymphoma-like symptoms including lymph node swelling, fever, rash and high white blood cell counts.
Anticonvulsants, penicillins and aspirin are some examples of drugs that are more likely to cause these types of reactions. Rarer conditions may also be confused with lymphoma, such as :. At the appointment, your doctor will likely ask questions about your symptoms and decide how to proceed. The doctor may want to conduct a physical exam focused on feeling for swelling or abnormalities in your lymph nodes and other areas that are commonly affected by lymphoma.
Depending on your symptoms, your doctor may recommend a blood test or other tests. Make a difference in the fight against cancer by donating to cancer research. Call us anytime. This page was updated on September 21, Non-Hodgkin lymphoma symptoms The human body has more than lymph nodes connected through a network of lymph vessels. Early warning signs of non-Hodgkin lymphoma Because many types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma involve different organs, signs and symptoms may vary depending on the type, location and stage of the disease.
Symptoms based on location and type Symptoms may be different depending on the location and type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Other types of lymphoma All lymphomas start in a particular type of cell called a lymphocyte.
Anaplastic large cell lymphomas ALCL may come with symptoms such as fever, backache, painless swelling of lymph nodes, poor appetite, itchy skin, rashes and fatigue. Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma AITL often causes symptoms such as fever, night sweats, rashes and itchy skin.
Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma CTCL may cause skin changes, which may include flat, rash-looking patches; thick, raised and itchy eczema-like plaques; and raised bumps.
Aggressive natural killer NK cell leukemia may come with symptoms such as fever, yellowing of the skin jaundice , swollen lymph nodes, swelling of the liver or spleen, and potentially skin changes. 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. SVC syndrome Lymphomas may occur anywhere in the network of lymph vessels throughout the body.
B symptoms B symptoms are a group of general symptoms that may be indicators of an aggressive lymphoma. How will you determine the cause of my symptoms?
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