Symptoms of lymph gland cancer

Typical for lymph gland cancer are painlessly enlarged lymph nodes that cannot be linked to an infection. They can occur in different parts of the body and usually persist for a long period of time. They are often palpable on the neck, in the armpits or in the groin.

Enlarged lymph nodes in the neck area are the most common. Lymphomas in the thorax are often only noticed on an X-ray. If the enlarged lymph nodes are located near the respiratory tract, irritable coughing and coughing on exertion can occur.

Enlarged lymph nodes in the abdominal cavity are less common and are conspicuous by fever. Furthermore, a combination of three symptoms is classic for this disease. This triad is called B-symptomatics by doctors.

It comprises: Fatigue and tiredness can also occur. Enlargement of the spleen is typical in lymphomas of later stages. In some cases, this can be palpated below the left costal arch and the enlargement can cause pain.

Patients also describe an itching that can occur all over the body. You can find more information about this here: Symptoms of lymph gland cancer

Fever above 38 degrees Celsius
Unintentional weight loss of more than 10% of the initial weight in the last 6 months
Night sweat

The liver may also become enlarged during the course of the disease, especially in Hodgkin’s lymphomas. This is noticeable by a pain in the right upper abdomen, which is caused by the swelling of the organ.

Another, rarer symptom that is characteristic for Hodgkin’s lymphoma is the so-called alcohol pain. In this case, the enlarged lymph nodes hurt when drinking only small amounts of alcohol. In advanced stages of the disease, non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas can affect the bone marrow.

The bone marrow is displaced so that the destruction of the bone marrow cells can lead to bleeding, increased infections or anemia. In addition, there may be masses in the ear, nose and throat area, on the skin, in the entire digestive tract and in the central nervous system. These are classified in the Ann-Arbor classification as an infestation of a region outside the lymph node.

A subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphomas is multiple myeloma. Here, the bones are frequently attacked and become porous. Thus, this disease can cause back pain and spontaneous bone fractures.

Hodgkin’s lymphoma is also a disease that can occur in childhood.In children the symptoms are similar to those of adults. Painless lymph node swelling and the B-symptomatics are also present. However, children with swollen lymph nodes and fever should not be thought of directly as lymph node cancer, as these symptoms are also typical of a simple infection. If the swelling of the lymph nodes or a chesty cough persists for a long period of time, a medical examination should be performed.