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).
Researchers believe the itchiness is caused by cytokines, which are chemicals released by the body's immune system in response to lymphoma. Cytokines can irritate nerve endings in the skin, which can in turn cause persistent itching.
Some people with Hodgkin lymphoma have itching as an early sign of cancer. Itching is more common in Hodgkin than in non-Hodgkin lymphoma. 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.
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).
The swollen lymph nodes are usually painless, but they can eventually put pressure on tissue or organs around them and cause discomfort or pain. Other common symptoms of NHL include: a rash or itchy skin on the chest, stomach and back.
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.
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.
Blood tests measure the amounts of certain types of cells and chemicals in the blood. They are not used to diagnose lymphoma, but they can sometimes help determine how advanced the lymphoma is.
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.
Patients with T-cell lymphomas generally have flat rashes called patches or plaques. The rash may start in a small area and then extend over large areas of the body. The patches may be red, itchy and dry, and cracks may form in the skin.
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.
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.
Burkitt lymphoma grows very rapidly, which means that symptoms usually develop quickly, over just a few days or weeks. The most common symptom is one or more lumps, which often develop in several parts of your body. These are swollen lymph nodes.
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.
The most common sign of lymphoma is a lump or lumps, usually in the neck, armpit or groin. These lumps are swollen lymph nodes, sometimes known as 'glands'. Usually, they're painless.
Low grade lymphoma, also known as indolent lymphoma, is usually very slow growing and most often incurable, though many patients respond positively to treatment. Low grade lymphomas can be localized in the initial stages, or in severe cases it can spread to different sites.
Cancer is never easy, even a slow-growing form of cancer like follicular lymphoma. People who have follicular lymphoma may not have symptoms for several years. But when they do, they may find themselves cycling treatment, remission, relapse and then more treatment, with no end or cure in sight.
Any skin problems they cause come and go and only need treatment some of the time. Some low-grade lymphomas do not become obvious until they are more advanced and the disease has spread to the lymph nodes, blood or internal organs.
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.
Night sweats are a common symptom of lymphoma. Sweating can occur in either of the two main types of lymphoma: Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). About 1 out of 4 people with HL experiences systemic symptoms like sweating.
A lymphoma misdiagnosis is especially problematic because your lymphatic system regulates your immune system. There's a good chance a doctor can treat it when caught early. However, a misdiagnosis or a delay in diagnosis means you are missing out on valuable treatment time, which can lead to a rapid spread of cancer.