Non-hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) is cancer that develops within the lymphatic system. The body is filled with well over 500 lymph nodes, which operate to safeguard the body via a connected network of lymph vessels. These lymph vessels offer a route for lymph fluid to travel throughout the body and filter out harmful substances. Both lymph fluid and lymph nodes (clusters located in the chest, pelvis, neck, armpits, groin, and abdomen) are made up of immune cells that can aim to fight infection and ward off foreign invaders (i.e., germs). This is why non-Hodgkin lymphoma can develop almost anywhere in body where lymph nodes exist, including our vital organs (i.e., lungs, liver, and stomach).
Symptoms of NHL can largely differ between patients, depending on what area of the body the cancer takes root. Early symptoms of NHL symptoms are often quite commonplace, mimicking the common cold, flu, or a respiratory infection. However, these lingering symptoms should never be ignored:
- Persistant fever
- Recurring headaches
- Unexplained weight loss and loss of appetite
- Indigestion and bloating
- Nausea and vomiting
- Night sweats and chills
- Stiff, achy bones
- Unexplained chest pain
- Coughing and shortness of breath
- Itchy skin and rash (pruritus)
- Chronic fatigue, constant tiredness
- Swollon lymph nodes (i.e., in the groin, underarms, and neck)
- Tumors in the chest area
- Bluish-red swelling of the skin
As lymphoma progresses, these indicators, known as B symptoms can be a sign of rapid and advanced lymphoma tumor growth:
- Persistent fever that doesn’t go away
- Unexplained and sudden weight loss
- Night sweats that drench the sheets
- Trouble breathing
- Chest pain
- Unexplained fatigue
- Abdominal pain and inflammation
- Tumor developing in lymph nodes of the groin, neck, or armpits
