What are the symptoms of lymphoma?
The most common symptoms of lymphoma are:
- painless, swollen lymph nodes in the neck, groin or underarm
- tiredness
- night sweats
- fever
- itchy skin
- weight loss
- loss of appetite
- frequent infections
- bleeding or bruising easily
- swollen abdomen, as a result of swollen lymph nodes, a swollen spleen, lymphomas in the digestive tract or fluid buildup
- cough, chest pain or trouble breathing, as a result of swollen lymph nodes in the chest
- headache and nervous system effects, if the lymphoma is in the brain
- itchy red or purple lumps, patches or plaques on, or under, the skin, if the lymphoma is in the skin.
Symptoms of Waldenstrom macroglobulinaemia (a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma) also include weakness; vision problems; dizziness; pain, tingling or numbness in the hands or feet; confusion; and heart, kidney and digestive problems.
Children with non-Hodgkin lymphoma may have wheezing, coughing, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, and swelling of the upper body, head, neck and arms.
Many conditions can cause these symptoms, not just lymphoma. If you have any of these symptoms, talk to your doctor.
- American Cancer Society. Hodgkin disease http://www.cancer.org/cancer/hodgkindisease/index.
- American Cancer Society. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma http://www.cancer.org/cancer/non-hodgkinlymphoma/index.
- American Cancer Society. Lymphoma of the skin http://www.cancer.org/cancer/lymphomaoftheskin/index.
- National Cancer Institute (2014). Adult Hodgkin lymphoma treatment (PDQ®) http://www.cancer.gov/types/lymphoma/patient/adult-hodgkin-treatment-pdq, patient version.
- National Cancer Institute (2014). Adult non-Hodgkin lymphoma treatment (PDQ®) http://www.cancer.gov/types/lymphoma/patient/adult-nhl-treatment-pdq, patient version.
- American Cancer Society. Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia http://www.cancer.org/cancer/waldenstrommacroglobulinemia/index.
- National Cancer Institute (2015). Childhood non-Hodgkin lymphoma treatment (PDQ®) http://www.cancer.gov/types/lymphoma/patient/child-nhl-treatment-pdq, patient version.