Signs of Lymphoma

To understand lymphoma, you must first know the basics of the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is the one responsible in maintaining the integrity of the body against invading pathogens. It is composed of the following parts:

Ø Lymph : This is the clear fluid that circulates around the lymphatic system. This contains lymphocytes that help fight infections. In lymphoma, the lymphocytes in question are the T-Cell or T-lymphocytes and the B-Cells or the B-lymphocytes.  

Ø Lymph vessels : the highway where the lymph travels to reach a node or a part of the body. 

Ø Lymph nodes : an area in the lymphatic system where lymphocytes round up the pathogens and gather together to destroy them. 

Ø Bone marrow : responsible for lymphocyte production 

Ø Spleen : storage of red blood cells as well as dead lymphocytes and pathogens 

Ø Liver : responsible for cleaning the byproduct of dead lymphocyte and pathogen destruction. 

In lymphoma the malignancy is stemmed in the lymphocytes: the T-Cells and the B-Cells. There are two types of lymphoma: Hodgkin’s and Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. With the exception of cutaneous lymphoma, the following are standard signs of lymphoma.  

1)     Swollen lymph nodes – compared to swollen lymph nodes due to infection, this is one of the characteristic signs of lymphoma for it is non-tender, lasting for more than 2-3 weeks without remission, rubbery, and more than 2 cm in size. 

2)     Abdominal distension – this is due to an enlarged spleen and/or liver because the malignant cells have accumulated in those regions. 

3)     Unexplained weight loss – because the malignant cells are taking up most of your body’s resources as they build in size and number, one of the signs of lymphoma is weight loss of more than 15 pounds in less than 2 months. No matter what you eat, no matter how much you sleep, you still keep on losing weight. 

4)     Night sweats – in the middle of the night, you may find yourself drenched with sweat. 

5)     Fever – fever that cannot be traced to any other infection that occurs intermittently for more than 2 weeks can be one of the signs of lymphoma.  

6)     Fatigue – because the malignancy has affected the bone marrow and spleen, you experience considerable anemia because production and storage of red blood cells have been greatly affected. 

If you are presented with the following signs of lymphoma, it is imperative that you contact your physician immediately. Survival rate of lymphoma is greatly dependent on how early the disease was been detected.