One of the reasons why lymphoma is so often undetected during its early stages is because most of its symptoms are similar to other harmless conditions. If you experience lymphoma symptoms as mentioned below, do not panic. It is always best to consult your doctor so you can be diagnosed correctly and be prescribed with proper medication.
If you notice a lump in certain parts of your body including the armpits, groin and neck, it is possible that you have this condition. The lumps are often painless so will only be discovered by touch or observation. This is the most common lymphoma symptoms. The lumps are caused by enlarged lymph nodes. It is a good habit for you to observe lumps in your body while you are taking a shower or changing your clothes. Rapid weight loss can also be a sign of lymphoma. If you happen to lose a lot of weight over a small period of time, this is something that you should consult with your doctor. In most cases there is no specific reason for such weight loss. It is not uncommon for a patient with lymphoma to lose weight of about 10 to 15 lbs. within a period of one to three months.
Fever can be a symptom of lots of other ailments but it can also be another lymphoma symptom. Fever may be a result of the swelling of the nodes which is also a symptom of infection. In some cases, lymphoma is mistaken as a simple infection, especially during its early stage this is why it is best to have a talk with your doctor. It is characterized by continuous fever or you may only experience intermittent fever. Excessive sweating can be caused by a number of reasons, like for example, after doing a rigorous physical activity. Excessive sweating related to lymphoma is characterized by excessive sweating with no apparent reason at all. You may find yourself waking up at night soaking with sweat but the temperature of the room is normal.
Lymphoma cells release certain chemicals that may cause itchiness. It is characterized by itchiness not only at certain areas of the body but itching spreads all over the body. Loss of appetite is one lymphoma symptom which is also related to rapid weight loss. If lymphoma spreads all through out your body, the nodes can grow quite large in size. This may cause a person to have a sudden loss of appetite. You would feel that you no longer crave for food and would eventually lose weight rapidly over a short period of time.
If you have a feeling of weakness that you usually don’t experience, this can also be a sign of lymphoma. As lymphoma cells grow they take up a lot of your body’s nutrients which can result in a feeling of weakness. If lymphoma occurs in the skull, putting pressure on the brain, you could feel leg weakness, giving you discomfort when walking and can also cause headaches. If lymphoma strikes in the stomach area, it can cause abdominal pain.
In some rare cases, lymphomas can grow very big in the areas of the neck and chest. If this happens, the flow of blood in this area could possibly be blocked which results in the swelling of the neck and face. This can be accompanied by a feeling of breathlessness or actual shortness of breath.
Each of the lymphoma symptoms mentioned could also be a sign of a totally different ailment. It’s when several of these symptoms are present that you should definitely be consulting with your doctor to rule out lymphoma.
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