The best way to find HL early is to be on the lookout for possible symptoms. 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.
The most common symptom of Hodgkin lymphoma is one or more enlarged (swollen) lymph nodes. The enlarged lymph node may be in the neck, upper chest, armpit, abdomen or groin. The swollen lymph node is usually painless.
The most common symptom of HL is a lump in the neck, under the arm, or in the groin, which is an enlarged lymph node. It doesn't usually hurt, but it may become painful after drinking alcohol. The lump might get bigger over time, or new lumps might appear near it or even in other parts of the body.
Lump or swelling in neck, throat, or jaw. Swelling of the lymph nodes is often the first thing lymphoma patients notice. Lymphoma can cause lymph nodes in the neck, throat, jaw, armpit, or groin to visibly swell.
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.
Other common non-Hodgkin lymphoma symptoms
Night sweats (often soaking the sheets) and/or chills. Persistent fatigue, lethargy, weakness. Loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting. Abdominal pain or swelling, or a feeling of fullness.
Painless swelling of lymph nodes in the neck, underarm, or groin area that does not go away within a few weeks. Unexplained fever that does not go away. Unexplained weight loss. Night sweats, usually drenching.
Loss of Appetite
Not feeling hungry or getting full very quickly is another possible sign of lymphoma. Some patients also feel nauseous, vomit, or develop abdominal pain. Lymphoma affecting your liver might also cause you to feel bloated, resulting from a fluid build-up in your abdomen.
Patients with Hodgkin lymphoma frequently present with painless supra-diaphragmatic lymphadenopathy (one to two lymph node areas), B symptoms including unexplained profound weight loss, high fevers, and drenching night sweats.
The doctor will ask detailed questions about your medical history and do a physical examination, which can identify whether the person has experienced some typical symptoms of Hodgkin lymphoma, such as night sweats, fevers, weight loss, change in appetite, and enlarged lymph nodes or spleen.
Swollen lymph nodes
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma can cause lymph nodes to become enlarged. Enlarged lymph nodes close to the surface of the body (such as on the sides of the neck, in the groin or underarm areas, or above the collar bone), may be seen or felt as lumps under the skin.
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.
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.
Blood tests aren't used to diagnose HL, but they can help your doctor get a sense of how advanced it is and how well you might tolerate certain treatments. The complete blood count (CBC) is a test that measures the levels of different cells in the blood. People with HL can sometimes have abnormal blood counts.
Hodgkin lymphoma most commonly affects lymph nodes in the neck or in the area between the lungs and behind the breastbone, which is called the mediastinum. It can also begin in groups of lymph nodes under an arm, in the groin, or in the abdomen or pelvis.
Blood tests are not used to diagnose lymphoma, but they can sometimes help determine how advanced the lymphoma is.
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. Fatigue is different to normal tiredness.
Lymph Node Biopsy
A biopsy of an enlarged lymph node is needed to diagnose HL. The preferred and most common type of biopsy is called an “excisional biopsy,” in which the whole lymph node is typically removed (excised).
Although lymphoma lumps often appear in clusters, it is possible to have a single lump. The lumps may be confined to one area of the body, such as the neck, or develop in multiple areas, such as the neck, armpits and groin. Lymphoma lumps have a rubbery feel and are usually painless.
Cutaneous T cell lymphoma
Many types of CTCL start as flat red patches on the skin, which can sometimes be itchy. With darker skin, the patches may appear lighter or darker than the surrounding skin. In the early stages, the skin patches can look like other common conditions such as eczema or psoriasis.
Some people experience lower back pain that is unexplained. It is thought that this may be caused by expanding lymph nodes pressing on nerves.
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.