Itching (pruritus) can be a symptom of some types of lymphoma: It is quite common with Hodgkin lymphoma. It is less common with most types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (other than cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, a type of skin lymphoma).
Cytokines can irritate nerve endings in the skin, which can in turn cause persistent itching. Many individuals experience this itchiness in their hands, lower legs or feet, while others feel it throughout their entire body. Patients often report that the itching tends to worsen while they are lying in bed at night.
Itching associated with lymphoma can feel like it is occurring below your skin and can't be satiated by scratching. It can be extremely distracting and usually isn't helped by creams or medications. Itching from lymphoma tends to occur more frequently on the lower half of the body and often gets worse at night.
The itching from Hodgkin lymphoma can be just on the legs or may spread to other parts of the body. Some people notice a rash as well.
CTCL is the most common type of skin lymphoma. It causes flat red patches on the skin that look like eczema and can be itchy.
The lesions are often itchy, scaly, and red to purple. The lymphoma might show up as more than one type of lesion and on different parts of the skin (often in areas not exposed to the sun). Some skin lymphomas appear as a rash over some or most of the body (known as erythroderma).
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.
Itching in lymphoma is thought to happen because of your body's reaction to chemicals released by your immune system in reaction to the lymphoma. These chemicals irritate the nerves in your skin and make it itch.
Blood tests are not used to diagnose lymphoma, but they can sometimes help determine how advanced the lymphoma is.
Enlarged lymph nodes. Hair loss. Thickening of the skin on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. A rash-like skin redness over the entire body that is intensely itchy.
The most common symptom is enlargement or swelling of one or more lymph nodes, causing a lump or bump under the skin which usually doesn't hurt. It's most often on the side of the neck, in the armpit, or in the groin.
Examples include dry skin (xerosis), eczema (dermatitis), psoriasis, scabies, parasites, burns, scars, insect bites and hives. Internal diseases. Itching on the whole body might be a symptom of an underlying illness, such as liver disease, kidney disease, anemia, diabetes, thyroid problems and certain cancers.
Your doctor can prescribe antihistamines. There are many different types and they may give you some relief. They tend not to work so well for itching caused by lymphoma or due to jaundice caused by a blocked bile duct.
The best way to find lymphoma early is to pay attention to possible signs and symptoms. One of the most common symptoms is enlargement of one or more lymph nodes, causing a lump or bump under the skin which is usually not painful. This is most often on the side of the neck, in the armpit, or in the groin.
In the differential diagnosis of cervical lymphadenopathy in patients with frequent episodes of tonsillitis, Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease should be taken into account. Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease may convincingly mimic symptoms characteristic of lymphoma.
Low-Grade Lymphoma
These grow so slowly that patients can live for many years mostly without symptoms, although some may experience pain from an enlarged lymph gland. After five to 10 years, low-grade disorders begin to progress rapidly to become aggressive or high-grade and produce more severe symptoms.
Common symptoms of lymphoma
Some people may not have any symptoms at all, and are diagnosed accidentally when having a scan for another medical condition. If you have an aggressive (fast-growing) lymphoma, you will likely notice your symptoms as they develop over a short period of time, such as days to weeks.
At an early stage, patches of dry, discoloured (usually red) skin often appear. They can look like more common skin conditions such as dermatitis, eczema or psoriasis. The patches tend to be dry, sometimes scaly and may be itchy.
NHL is a disease that usually comes on suddenly and gets worse quickly. Symptoms vary depending on where tumor(s) are. These are the most common locations and their symptoms: Abdomen – pain, swelling, fever, anemia, tiredness, weight loss, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and irregular periods.
Peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified (PTCLNOS) often causes symptoms such as fever, night sweats and unintentional weight loss. 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.
Cancer-related fatigue is exhaustion that's at a much higher level than would usually be expected – you might feel tired very quickly after doing quite little. It can be physical, emotional or mental exhaustion.