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Lymphoma: Cancer of the Lymph Nodes

Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymph nodes. This type of cancer is different from all other types of cancers. Other cancers start at one organ and, with time, they may spread to the lymph nodes and distant organs. Lymphomas work in the opposite direction because they start in the lymph nodes and eventually spread to other organs in the body.

Lymphomas are classified as one of two different types: Hodgkin's lymphoma or Hodgkin's disease (HD), and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL).

Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma and Hodgkin's Disease

Both types of cancer start in the lymph nodes. Hodgkin's disease, however, is characterized by the presence of abnormal cancerous cells called Reed-Sternberg cells, which are not present in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma malignancies.

Another difference is that Hodgkin's disease tends to spread to adjacent lymph nodes and is less likely than NHL to metastasize or spread to other organs outside the lymphatic system.

Symptoms of Lymphoma

Like many other cancers, symptoms are absent in the early stages. But as the cancer continues to advance, symptoms start to appear. The symptoms often depend on the type and severity of the lymphoma. Some of the general symptoms of lymphoma include:

the swelling of lymph nodes—most often in the neck, under an arm, in the abdomen or in the groin
swelling of the arms and legs as a result of the enlarged lymph node pressing against a blood or lymphatic vessel
numbness or tingling in the arms and legs as a result of the enlarged lymph node pressing against a nerve
loss of appetite as a result of the enlarged lymph node pressing against the stomach
abdominal pain as a result of an enlarged spleen.

Not all symptoms of lymphoma are a result of spleen or lymph node swelling. Other general symptoms of lymphoma may include:

fever
chills
night sweats
weight loss
fatigue
weakness
itching.

Ultimately, the symptoms depend on the person. Some lymphoma patients experience all of the above symptoms and more while others may not experience any of the symptoms, even during later stages of the disease.

This section discusses in detail both Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with each article listed in the menu to the left. To research other blood disorders or health topics, please use the morefocus search tool, or see the related topics listed to the left.

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