Lymphoma – Symptoms and Causes
Overview
Lymphoma is a cancer that affects the lymphatic system, which plays a key role in your body’s immune defenses. This cancer begins when healthy lymphocytes (white blood cells) start growing abnormally and out of control.
The lymphatic system includes lymph nodes found throughout your body—in the neck, underarms, chest, abdomen, groin, and pelvis. It also includes the spleen, thymus, tonsils, and bone marrow. Lymphoma can affect any of these areas.
There are two main types of lymphoma:
- Hodgkin Lymphoma – An uncommon form identified by the presence of Reed-Sternberg cells.
- Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma – More common than Hodgkin lymphoma but still relatively rare.
Who Gets Lymphoma
Age patterns differ between the two main types:
- Non-Hodgkin lymphoma: Risk increases with age, with about half of diagnoses occurring in people over 65.
- Hodgkin lymphoma: Often shows two peaks – young adults (20-40) and people over 55.
Risk factors include:
- Weakened immune system
- Certain infections (Epstein-Barr virus, Helicobacter pylori)
Common Lymphoma Symptoms:
- Painless swelling of lymph nodes (neck, armpits, groin)
- Unexplained fever
- Weight loss without trying
- Drenching night sweats
- Persistent fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Itchy skin (especially in Hodgkin lymphoma)
These symptoms don’t automatically mean you have lymphoma, but they warrant a doctor visit, especially if they persist.
Diagnosis Process
Doctors typically follow several steps to diagnose lymphoma:
- Physical examination – Checking for swollen lymph nodes and enlarged liver or spleen.
- Lymph node biopsy – Removing a lymph node to examine for cancer cells and determine the lymphoma type.
- Bone marrow testing – Taking samples from the hip bone to check for lymphoma cells.
- Imaging studies – Using PET scans, CT scans, or MRIs to look for signs of lymphoma throughout the body.
Treatment Approaches
Treatment depends on several factors:
- Lymphoma type
- Disease stage
- Cancer aggressiveness
- Overall health
Treatment options include:
| Treatment | Description |
|---|---|
| Watchful waiting | For slow-growing lymphomas, delaying treatment until necessary |
| Chemotherapy | Using powerful drugs to kill lymphoma cells |
| Targeted therapy | Focusing on specific abnormalities in cancer cells |
| Immunotherapy | Using your immune system to fight cancer |
For slow-growing lymphomas, doctors might recommend “watchful waiting” with regular monitoring before starting treatment.
Living with Lymphoma
Being diagnosed with lymphoma can feel overwhelming, but there are ways to cope:
- Learn about your specific lymphoma type
- Ask questions and seek reliable information
- Lean on friends and family for support
- Consider joining a support group
The outlook for lymphoma patients has improved significantly. Many patients achieve remission and return to normal life. Research continues to develop more effective treatments.
Remember that lymphoma treatment success rates are quite high. With proper care from specialists, many people with lymphoma have excellent chances for recovery.
Types
Different types of blood cancers affect the body in various ways. These include:
- Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: A slow-growing cancer that affects white blood cells.
- Cutaneous B-cell Lymphoma: Cancer that appears on the skin involving B cells.
- Cutaneous T-cell Lymphoma: Skin cancer involving T cells.
- Hodgkin Lymphoma: Cancer marked by the presence of Reed-Sternberg cells.
- Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma: A group of blood cancers that affect the lymphatic system.
- Waldenström macroglobulinemia: A rare blood cancer that causes overproduction of certain proteins.
Each type requires different treatment approaches based on its specific characteristics and progression patterns.
Signs and Symptoms
Lymphoma may cause several different symptoms. These include:
- Fever
- Night sweats
- Feeling very tired
- Itchy skin
- Swollen lymph nodes in the neck, armpits, groin, or belly that don’t hurt
- Pain in the chest, stomach area, or bones
- Weight loss without trying
These signs can vary from person to person. Some people might have many symptoms, while others have only a few or none at all.
When to Talk to a Healthcare Provider
If you notice any symptoms that last a long time or worry you, schedule an appointment with your doctor. Remember that many of these symptoms can also be caused by common illnesses like infections.
Your healthcare provider will likely check for these more common causes first before considering lymphoma.
Causes
Lymphoma starts with changes in the DNA of lymphocytes, which are blood cells that fight disease. In healthy cells, DNA provides instructions for normal growth, multiplication, and death.
When DNA changes occur in lymphocytes, these instructions become altered.
The DNA changes in lymphoma can cause several problems:
- Diseased lymphocytes grow uncontrollably
- Too many abnormal lymphocytes accumulate in lymph nodes
- Swelling occurs in lymph nodes, spleen, and liver
Unlike healthy cells, which die at a predetermined time, cancer cells with altered DNA continue living when they should naturally die. These abnormal cells multiply quickly, creating more diseased cells.
Medical experts remain uncertain about what triggers these DNA changes in lymphocytes. The exact cause of lymphoma isn’t fully understood by healthcare providers, though ongoing research continues to investigate potential factors that might contribute to its development.
Risk Factors
Several factors may increase a person’s chance of developing lymphoma:
Immune System Problems: People with weakened immune systems face higher lymphoma risks. This includes those taking immunosuppressive medications after organ transplants.
Genetic Factors: Having a close family member (parent, sibling, or child) with lymphoma raises one’s risk of developing the disease.
Certain Infections: Some infections are linked to a higher lymphoma risk. These include the Epstein-Barr virus, Helicobacter pylori, and HIV.
Age: Age plays a role in lymphoma risk. Some types occur more frequently in teenagers and young adults. Meanwhile, others are more common in people over 55.
Currently, there is no known way to prevent lymphoma. Understanding these risk factors can help people be more aware of their personal risk level. However, having risk factors doesn’t mean someone will definitely develop the disease.
