When non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is diagnosed no symptoms are present to patients. Often the lymphoma is discovered by doctor after a physical examination or an investigation for some other condition, such as a blood test or a chest X-ray.



Symptoms can be divided into four broad groups: swelling in one or more lymph nodes, constitutional symptoms, symptoms that are attributable to lymphoma swellings outside the lymph nodes, symptoms that are attributable to decreased numbers of blood cells.

The most common symptom of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma at the time of diagnosis is a painless, swollen lymph node, usually in the neck, the armpit or the groin. These swellings do not present pain or other symptoms, but often steadily increase in size. Patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and some with indolent non-Hodgkin's lymphoma present swollen lymph nodes at the time of diagnosis.

Swollen lymph nodes are very common and the people with swollen nodes do not have non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The most common cause of swollen lymph nodes is infection. Swollen lymph nodes go down after the infection has cleared up.

Other common symptoms include: constitutional symptoms (symptoms of being generally unwell) and symptoms that are attributable to lymphoma swellings outside the lymph nodes. Symptoms indicating that a person is unwell are called constitutional symptoms.

Symptoms that commonly occur in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma include: recurrent, unexplained fevers (with body temperature over 38 degrees Centigrade), night sweats, which may drench nightclothes and sheets, unintended weight loss (defined as losing more than 10% of the body weight in 6 months), severe and persistent fatigue or tiredness and decreased appetite.

Fevers, night sweats and weight loss are used in the staging of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma stage IIB indicates that one or more of these three symptoms are present, whereas stage IIA indicates that none of these three symptoms is present. These first symptoms are sometimes called 'B symptoms'.

Other symptoms that people with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma may experience include: breathlessness or cough itchiness that is persistent and may be felt all over the body.

If the lymphoma is in another part of the body, outside the lymph nodes different symptoms can occur. Abdominal pain, indigestion or diarrhea may be caused by a lymphoma in the stomach or intestines. Recurrent, unexplained fevers, night sweats and unintended weight loss: the so-called 'B symptoms' Fevers, night sweats and weight loss may be present to patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Numbers of blood cells (such as red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets) are decreased at people with lymphoma. This happen because the lymphoma is in the bone marrow, where blood cells are made. Sometimes cell numbers can be decreased even if a sign of any bone marrow involvement is not present.

People are tired and breathless when low numbers of red blood cells, or anemia are present. Low numbers of white blood cells make people more prone to infection and low numbers of platelets makes people more likely to bruise or bleed easily. In non-Hodgkin's lymphoma can appear all of these.

It is important to know these symptoms for a better treatment.