Lymphoma is a type of cancer that starts in a part of the immune system called the lymphatic system. When you spot the symptoms of lymphoma early, you can get diagnosed and treated right away. But the signs and symptoms of lymphoma may look like signs and symptoms of other conditions, so it can be hard to tell exactly what is causing your issues.
Ambuga Badari, MD, and Sunil Tulpule, MD, lymphoma specialists with Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center, explained more about the signs and symptoms of lymphoma and what to know so you can get the care you need as quickly as possible.
Lymphoma signs and symptoms
“There are two main types of lymphomas: Hodgkin, which is less common, and non-Hodgkin, which is more common,” Dr. Badari said. They affect the lymphatic system in different ways and they have different treatment options.
Dr. Tulpule said that symptoms of lymphoma may include:
- Swollen lymph nodes: Painless lumps in the neck, armpits or groin
- Unexplained weight loss: Losing more than 10% of your body weight without trying
- Loss of appetite: Not feeling hungry or feeling full after eating a small amount
- Abdominal pain or bloating: Possibly due to an enlarged spleen, caused by lymphoma
- Fever: Long-lasting high temperature without any obvious cause
- Night sweats: Especially those that drench your clothing and sheets
- Fatigue: Feeling tired even after you’ve rested
- Coughing or breathing difficulties: Especially without a clear respiratory infection
- Itchy skin or rashes: Unexplained skin changes, particularly in Hodgkin lymphoma
Symptoms of lymphoma that may overlap with other conditions
Lymphoma symptoms are called nonspecific, meaning various conditions could be causing them. That can make lymphoma hard to identify early. “There are often other explanations for one or more of these symptoms,” Dr. Badari said:
- Loss of weight or appetite could be due to conditions like diabetes, hypothyroidism, stress, depression or weight-loss drugs like Wegovy.
- Night sweats can be mistaken for hot flashes in perimenopausal women, or in men taking drugs that lower or block testosterone.
- Fatigue can be due to infection, stress, poor sleeping habits or obesity.
- Fever is a common symptom of many infections, including flu and mononucleosis, but it usually clears up when the infection is treated.
- Many infections, including strep throat and ear infections, cause swollen lymph glands. With infections, the glands are often tender or painful to the touch. In lymphomas, the enlarged lymph glands are usually painless.
- Cough could be caused by upper respiratory infection, asthma, bronchitis or pneumonia.
Because lymphoma symptoms overlap with many other conditions, it’s important to understand common possible look-alikes.
- Some infections can cause symptoms similar to lymphoma:
- Mononucleosis, which can cause fatigue, fever and swollen lymph nodes.
- Tuberculosis, which may cause fever, weight loss and night sweats.
- HIV, which can cause enlarged lymph nodes.
- Autoimmune diseases like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis can cause fatigue, swollen lymph nodes and rashes.
- Other cancers like leukemia and cancer that has spread may have symptoms like fatigue and swollen lymph nodes.
- Chronic fatigue syndrome, allergies and even stress can cause similar symptoms.
How to know if it’s lymphoma or another condition
“Your health care provider may suspect lymphoma based on how long you’ve had symptoms and how intense they are,” Dr. Tulpule said.
They will check to see if you have:
- Symptoms that last a long time or get worse over time
- Ongoing symptoms that are not getting better with treatments, like antibiotics for infections
- Swollen lymph nodes that aren’t painful and stay swollen or get bigger
- Enlarged tonsils
- Skin rash
- Enlarged liver or spleen
They may recommend these diagnostic tests:
- Blood tests to check for any concerns
- Imaging tests like CT or PET scans to look for enlarged lymph nodes
- Biopsies to check lymph node tissue for cancer cells
When to get medical care
If you have any of the symptoms listed above, contact your health care provider for guidance.
Get care right away for these red-flag symptoms:
- Lymph nodes that are getting bigger quickly
- Unexplained fevers or weight loss
- Severe fatigue that interferes with your daily life
Trust your instincts. It’s always better to be cautious and get care if you’re worried. If it’s lymphoma and diagnosed early, you may be able to get more effective treatment and have a better outcome.
“Lymphomas can be successfully treated, even in advanced stages unlike some other cancers. And some of the most advanced treatments available in cancer care, like chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy (CAR-T), are for people with some types of lymphomas,” Dr. Badari said.
The bottom line
Lymphoma symptoms can overlap with other conditions. It’s important to recognize any changes in your body so you can get diagnosed and start any needed treatment right away.
If you have any symptoms that could be caused by lymphoma, contact your health care provider or a Banner Health expert today so you can get the care you need.
