Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Common Symptoms Of Lymphoma

Lymphoma is a form of cancer that originates in the lymphocyte cells present in the immune system of an individual. Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell that play an important role in the protection against various infectious and disease-causing foreign bodies. Thus, when these cells change into an aggressive form, it can lead to various infections and health hazards. This form of cancer most commonly originates in the lymph nodes; however, the cancer can spread to various other parts of the body through the bloodstream. Various symptoms are often associated with lymphoma.


Lumps


A lump near the neck, armpit or groin is one of the most common symptoms of lymphoma, however these lumps can spread to various other parts of the body where the lymph nodes are present. These lumps are not painful and are mostly formed due to the inflammation of the lymph nodes, which is caused due to the uncontrolled cell division of the cells present in the lymph nodes.


Fever


Fever is another common symptom often associated with lymphoma. Individuals suffering from lymphoma most commonly experience fever, which is either continuous or intermittent in nature and usually reoccurs in two to three days. This sort of fever usually causes a lot of discomfort to the individuals and most commonly occurs due to the infections caused to the lymph nodes due to the abnormal functioning of the lymphocytes.


Loss of Appetite








When the cancerous cells spread to other parts of the body through the blood stream, individuals often experience a feeling of loss of appetite, which often subsequently leads to considerable loss of weight. According to an article published on the health site About.com, it has been found that more than 10 percent weight loss is often a factor of great concern in cases of lymphoma.


Breathlessness


In severe and rare cases of lymphoma where the cancerous cells present in the neck and near the chest region spread to other parts of the body, it often leads to the blocking of the blood vessels, thus resulting in a felling of breathlessness in individuals suffering from lymphoma.


Other Common Symptoms of Lymphoma


Various other common symptoms often associated with lymphoma include excessive sweating, which often worsens during nights, itching all over the body, fatigue and felling of extreme tiredness even when sitting idle, and chills among others.

Tags: lymph nodes, other parts, other parts body, parts body, associated with, associated with lymphoma