What were your first signs of lymphoma: Lymphoma – Symptoms and causes
Common Lymphoma Symptoms, Described by Real Patients
Written By:
Stephanie Chuang
Lymphoma comes in many different forms, and can cause a wide variety of symptoms in patients prior to diagnosis.
Below are some of the first signs of both Hodgkin’s lymphoma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma that real patients experienced before they sought medical advice.
Table Of Contents
- First signs and symptoms of lymphoma
- How patients described their first signs of lymphoma
- Lump or swelling in neck, throat, or jaw
- Fatigue
- Coughing
- Shortness of breath / difficulty breathing
- Fever, night sweats and/or chills
- Itching
- More lymphoma symptoms stories
- What to do if you’re experiencing symptoms
First signs and symptoms of lymphoma
- Lump or swelling in neck, throat, or jaw
- Fatigue
- Occasional dry coughing
- Shortness of breath / difficulty breathing
- Fever, night sweats and/or chills
- Itching (particularly in the legs)
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Chest pain
- Stomach / abdominal pain
- Body aches
In addition to the above more common lymphoma symptoms, some patients have also experienced the following: Difficulty swallowing, a bump on the sternum, swelling in the legs, bloating, a rash on neck and chest, and others
»MORE PATIENT STORIES: Hodgkin Lymphoma stories | Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma stories
How patients described their first signs of lymphoma
It’s common for pre-diagnosis lymphoma patients to experience a number of symptoms at the same time, rather than a single one.
Many are interpreted at first as symptoms of a cold, flu, or general fatigue.
Read on for highlights from lymphoma patient stories of how they first experienced signs that something was wrong.
Lump or swelling in neck, throat, or jaw
Swelling of the lymph nodes is often the first thing lymphoma patients notice. Lymphoma can cause lymph nodes in the neck, throat, jaw, armpit, or groin to visibly swell. While most lymphadenopathy (swelling of the lymph nodes) is caused by infection, it can sometimes indicate cancer. Lymphoma patients interviewed by The Patient Story most commonly report lymph node swelling in the neck, throat, and jaw.
Most of the time, these lymph nodes are painless and have a “rubbery” texture. However, rapid swelling can cause painful irritation of the tissues around the lymph node, and texture can vary from person to person. It’s important to ask a doctor about any unusual lymph node swelling that you experience.
Your doctor may perform a blood test, ultrasound, or a fine needle aspiration biopsy in order to give you a diagnosis.
It is common for doctors to prescribe a round of antibiotics in order to rule out infection before performing further tests.
One red flag to watch out for is swelling of the supraclavicular lymph nodes, which are located just above your collar bone. Swollen supraclavicular lymph nodes are more likely to indicate cancer than swollen nodes in other parts of the body. Some patients say that their lymph nodes grew slowly overtime, while some patients say that their lymph nodes grew seemingly overnight.
“I felt a lump in the back of my neck. I thought this was a muscle knot and kept trying to rub it out. It got bigger. I was told it was probably an infection that had caused a lymph node to enlarge and nothing to worry about. However, it didn’t go away. About three weeks later I met with another doctor, as I discovered another lump.”
– Tony D. | Read more →
“I noticed a growth on my neck. Usually, if there’s swelling from a viral infection, you see symmetrical swelling, so just having it on the right side only was a little alarming.
”
– Charlie B. | Read more →
”“I really didn’t have any symptoms except for the one lymph node on my right side that was just getting bigger and bigger as time went on. It just wasn’t going down. As soon as I started to feel other ones lower down my neck, it just didn’t seem right.”
– Danielle D. | Read more →
“I noticed I had swollen lymph nodes on the left side of my neck. My mom is a nurse practitioner, so I showed her when I was visiting one weekend. I asked if we could go get it checked out. I asked her what it could be, and she said I could have some type of infection or worst case scenario that it could be some kind of cancer.”
– Tylere P. | Read more →
“I thought I had slept weird. I was just feeling some discomfort in my neck. I never thought it would be cancerous. I told my parents I had this thing on my neck, and they said we should get it checked out.
– Logan A. | Read more →
”“When I got out of the shower in the evening, I noticed a lump in my throat that I did not see the day before. I pushed on it and it felt pretty hard, but it did not hurt. My heart sank a bit because I instinctively felt that something was very wrong. My first thought was thyroid cancer. I didn’t know what it was, but I knew it was not good.”
– Donna S.| Read more →
Fatigue
Many lymphoma patients experience cancer-related fatigue as one of their early symptoms. Unlike normal tiredness, fatigue related to lymphoma doesn’t just go away when you rest. Fatigue can range from feeling a bit worn-out to being so severe you have trouble completing even simple tasks. You might also have mental fog or personality changes.
Cancer-related fatigue can have a few different causes, including anemia (low red blood cells), inflammation, and strain on the body from the cancer itself.
If you’ve already been diagnosed and are experiencing fatigue, talk to your doctor to see if there is an underlying cause that medication could help, like depression or anxiety.
“I was feeling lethargic and sleepy for weeks, but attributed it to my most recent work schedule. For about a week, I would wake up with a swollen jaw and neck. As the day went on, the swelling would subside so I thought I was just ‘bloated.’ It wasn’t until I woke up one morning and had a very deep cough that came from a place I’d never experienced.”
– Stephanie C. | Read more →
“I started to notice symptoms of achiness and I was getting very tired, but at this point, my workload had picked up. I had taken a promotion. I was working extra hard. It was extra demanding, and on top of that, it’s the holiday season and we were going out. We had office parties. I had dinner parties. So I was tired. I kind of chalked all of this up to either I just have a lingering virus, because I would get a little achy in the afternoon, then I would have a good sleep, and then I’d wake up and I’d feel fine.
– CC W. | Read more →
”“I had been going to the doctor for severe fatigue for several years prior to diagnosis. We didn’t know what it was. Thoughts went through our heads that it was possibly chronic fatigue syndrome. Several doctors told me I needed to get more exercise, and that would solve the fatigue problem.”
– Lacey B. | Read more →
Coughing
Another commonly reported lymphoma symptom is coughing. Coughing occurs when swollen lymph nodes in the chest press on the trachea (windpipe). If you only have swollen lymph nodes in your chest, coughing may be the first sign of lymphoma. Talk to your doctor if you have an unusual cough that won’t go away.
“I started showing “signs” about two weeks prior to giving birth with just a bad cough and a little trouble breathing that I thought was caused by being pregnant.”
– Keyla S. | Read more →
“I had been coughing for the better part of a year, sometimes worse than others.
– Stephanie O. | Read more →
That was really my only sign. I’d been active, I’d been living my life normally, fully. But I was coughing a lot. Then I was going to the health center at school or whatever was available and they would always just say, ‘Oh, maybe it’s allergies, maybe you’re fine healthwise.’”“For several months I had shortness of breath and a dry cough. I dismissed these signs because I believed it was a cold or a flu.”
– Fabiola L. | Read more →
Shortness of breath / difficulty breathing
Like coughing, shortness of breath is a lymphoma symptom that is caused by lymph nodes in your chest swelling and pressing on your trachea. Shortness of breath might occur with or without coughing. It may make your chest feel tight or leave you winded after a flight of stairs.
Some people report that shortness of breath/difficulty breathing is accompanied by pain, which can result from swollen lymph nodes pushing on muscle tissue.
“I really just couldn’t breathe. That was the only symptom I really had. I was going to the gym like 5 or 6 days out of the week…I took it a little easier, and it wasn’t getting any better. Then it got to the point where it was just sporadic. I would be driving in the car, and I’d feel like an elephant was sitting on my chest.”
– Madi J. | Read more →
“I had set an appointment to have some of my adenoid tissue removed as it was causing that blockage in my nose that was affecting my breathing. I had an incredible hard time breathing through my nose (near 90 to 100%) blockage which led me to seek the ear, nose, throat (ENT) doctor to take a look.”
– Helicon K. | Read more →
“All of a sudden it felt like there was a vacuum in my chest. It was hard to breathe, and it was cramping. I didn’t want to cause a fuss, so I pushed through it for the movie. I was drinking water and taking shallow breaths.
– Kayla T. | Read more →
From them on for about a week or so, I just struggled.”Fever, night sweats and/or chills
Night sweats are frequently reported by lymphoma patients as one of the symptoms that tipped them off that something was wrong. While lots of things might cause you to wake up a bit sweaty -like hot weather, new bedding, or even anxiety- night sweats associated with lymphoma keep coming back and often make you feel like you’ve dumped a bucket of water on your head.
Doctors aren’t completely sure what causes night sweats in lymphoma patients. Night sweats are a natural reaction to fever, which is another symptom of lymphoma. A low-grade fever that comes and goes over the course of several weeks is cause for concern. Chills, which tend to be associated with fever, are also reported by lymphoma patients.
“I had symptoms for probably more than a year before I found out what it was…I thought the night sweats were perimenopause.
– Katee P. | Read more →
I had extreme itching to the point where I would bruise my legs…I had a constant, persistent cough as well. I thought it was allergies. I had an excuse for everything.”“I was getting lots of fevers, inflammation and stuff like that. The initial symptoms were the weight loss and loss of appetite though.”
– Brianna B. | Read more →
Itching
Itching is a common symptom in many lymphoma patients, but is more commonly experienced by patients with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Itching from lymphoma is believed to be caused by chemicals called cytokines, which irritate nerve endings and cause itchy skin. Unlike eczema or allergic reactions, itching associated with lymphoma is often not accompanied by a rash.
Itching associated with lymphoma can feel like it is occurring below your skin and can’t be satiated by scratching. It can be extremely distracting and usually isn’t helped by creams or medications.
Itching from lymphoma tends to occur more frequently on the lower half of the body and often gets worse at night.
“My first symptoms were itchy skin and an enlarged lymph node. My belly itched, my arms itched, everything itched so much it motivated me to go to a dermatologist’s office. It was kind of unbearable and really distracted me at work.”
– Lauren C. | Read more →
“The first time I saw the doctor was a year ago and it was for the itching. I was only showing him my legs to see what was wrong. I was prescribed creams to try out but they didn’t work out. I saw the doctor a second time and we tried other creams and they didn’t work. [Then] I saw a dermatologist. She ended up referring me to an oncologists when I got some scans back because there was something showing up.”
– Jade B. | Read more →
More lymphoma symptoms stories
“My appetite waned and I started to lose weight, but didn’t take any action.
– Arielle R. | Read more →
Then the lymph nodes along my neck, throat, and clavicle area swelled up suddenly. ““I had noticed for a couple of months that I had this bump right on my sternum. That was it. It felt like a bone was popping out but nothing else of concern. I didn’t have any other symptoms. I was going to the gym a couple times a week, and I was living life normally.”
– Patrick M. | Read more →
“I had started having chest pain. It was early in the Fall of the year before my diagnosis the next January. I went to get it checked out, and they told me I had a pulled muscle. I still had the chest pain, so I went back in December. They said I had walking pneumonia. They didn’t really think anything of it. In January, it hurt to eat or drink anything, so I went to the ER. That’s when they found a mass.”
– Crystal Z. | Read more →
“I was in denial for a long time.
– Rachel P. | Read more →
I had been having trouble buttoning my pants for a while. I started wearing flowy clothes…someone asked me if I was pregnant. There was clearly something wrong, but I also had a hernia, so I just thought it was related to that…I was pretty low-energy for a while too. When I’d work out, I would get tired faster than usual. [One night] I had a really bad stomach ache, and I went to be at 6:30pm because I was just too tired. The pain became so intense over the course of the night, and my husband was asking if I wanted to go to the ER. I kept saying, “No, it’s just a hernia. That’s silly.” Finally, at about 1:30 in the morning, I wanted to go because I was in too much pain.”“I was about to go to bed. I was struck with this extreme, sudden lower back pain. It felt like someone was stabbing me in the back. It was this crazy pulsating pain. It radiated through my hips and down my legs. It was so scary because it went from 0 to 100.
– Lia S. | Read more →
I tried to switch my position to see if that could fix it because I was so confused. Nothing helped. I was so shocked. I tried to stand up, and I couldn’t because the pain was so unbearable.”What to do if you’re experiencing symptoms
If you or a loved one is experiencing any of the above signs, don’t panic. Many ailments other than cancer can cause similar symptoms, so you shouldn’t immediately assume the worst. However, it’s also best not to wait if you truly feel something is wrong with your body. Make an appointment with your doctor to discuss your symptoms and the right course of action for your health.
»MORE: Being your own health advocate
Local symptoms, systemic symptoms, and more
The most common early sign of lymphoma is lymph node swelling. However, swelling of the lymph nodes does not always mean a person has cancer.
Lymphoma is a general name for cancers that start in the lymph system.
The lymph system consists of organs and tissues, such as lymph nodes, that hold infection-fighting white blood cells.
The most common early symptom of lymphoma is inflammation or swelling in at least one lymph node. Lymphoma-related lymph node swelling is more common in the armpit, groin, and side of the neck. Swollen lymphoma-related lymph nodes are often painless bumps or lumps at first.
There are two primary types of lymphoma: Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Read on for more information about the early symptoms of lymphoma, whether an early diagnosis is possible, and when to see a doctor.
The most common early symptom of lymphoma is one or more swollen lymph nodes, often in the groin, armpit, and side of the neck.
Other symptoms may include:
- fevers, chills, and night sweats
- unexplained weight loss, 10% loss of body weight or more over 6 months
- exhaustion
- bruising or bleeding easily
- frequent or severe infections
Depending on the body region lymphoma impacts, it can cause additional symptoms.
Common symptoms of specific types of lymphoma include the following.
Symptoms of lymphoma in the abdomen:
- being full after eating a small amount
- loss of appetite
- vomiting or nausea
- abdominal pain and swelling
Symptoms of lymphoma in the chest
- cough
- shortness of breath
- trouble breathing
- chest pressure or pain
Symptoms of lymphoma in the brain
- headache
- trouble thinking
- facial numbness
- weakness
- seizures
- personality changes
- double vision
- trouble speaking
Lymphomas involving the skin tend to cause:
- purple or red bumps and lumps under the skin
- itchy skin
- rashes
Symptoms of lymphoma can be local or systemic. Local symptoms impact one specific region of the body. Systemic symptoms affect the whole body.
Common local symptoms of lymphoma include:
- loss of appetite or feeling full quickly after eating
- vomiting or nausea
- abdominal pain and swelling
- cough, shortness of breath, or trouble breathing
- chest pressure or pain
- headache and trouble thinking
- weakness
- seizures
- personality changes
Common systemic symptoms of lymphoma include:
- fevers, chills, and night sweats
- exhaustion
- bruising or bleeding easily
- frequent or severe infections
- unexplained weight loss
- bluish-red swelling in the arms, upper chest, or head (in severe cases)
While it is possible to detect lymphoma early, there are currently no screening tests.
If a doctor is unsure of the cause of a lump, bump, or swollen lymph node, they may take a biopsy, or a small sample of tissues or fluids, for laboratory testing.
A doctor may also use imaging tests, such as MRI, CT scans, PET scans, x-ray, bone scans, or ultrasounds to help:
- find a possible cause for the symptoms
- determine the extent of lymphoma
- determine if treatment is working
- look for signs lymphoma has returned after treatment
People with risk factors for lymphoma should undergo regular medical check-ups.
Risk factors for lymphoma include:
- having an autoimmune disease, in particular rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren (Sjögren) disease, celiac disease, or systemic lupus erythematosus
- previous cancer treatment, especially radiation therapy and chemotherapy medications
- organ transplants
- HIV infections
- family history of lymphoma
- Epstein Barr, herpes virus 8, or human T-cell lymphotropic virus
- long-term infections with the bacterial species Helicobacter pylori, Chlamydophila psittaci, or Campylobacter jejuni
- exposure to certain ingredients in radiation, pesticides, and herbicides
- being male
- being Asian or African American
- living in the United States or Europe
- having breast implants
The overall risk of developing lymphoma increases with age, with most cases impacting people 60 years or older.
The risk of developing Hodgkin lymphoma is greatest for people 15-39 years of age or 75 and older.
Many of the signs and symptoms of lymphoma are similar to those of other, often less severe, conditions.
However, A person should consider seeing a doctor as soon as possible if the following symptoms develop:
- swelling of the lymph nodes or an unexplained bump or lump, in particular around the groin, armpits, and side of the neck
- frequent or severe infections
- unexplained weight loss that amounts to a 10% loss of total body weight or more in 6 months
- unexplained chills, fever, or drenching night sweats
- unexplained exhaustion or fatigue
- bruising or bleeding easily
- bluish-red swelling in the arms, upper chest, or head
- trouble breathing or shortness of breath
- constant headache
- problems thinking or speaking
- personality changes
- facial numbness
- unexplained lumps and bumps under the skin
- unexplained abdominal pain or swelling
- nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite
- chest pain or pressure
Lymphoma is a general term for cancers that start in the lymph system or lymphocytes (white blood cells).
There is no widely accepted test to detect lymphoma.
In some cases, however, doctors may diagnose lymphoma early. A swollen lymph node or lymph nodes are often the first sign of lymphoma. People with risk factors that increase the risk of developing lymphoma should receive regular, complete medical exams.
Cancer of the lymph nodes – the first signs and symptoms of cancer of the lymphatic system in Moscow
| Primary appointment (examination, consultation) with an oncologist | 6 500 ₽ |
| I eat (examination, consultation) of an oncologist repeated | 5 500 ₽ |
| Appointment (examination, consultation) with an oncologist, PhD, primary | 9 000 ₽ | |
| Appointment (examination, consultation) with an oncologist , PhD, repeated | 7,500 ₽ | |
| Appointment (examination, consultation) with an oncologist, specialist of the Institute of Oncology (consultation with preparation of a treatment plan), primary | 7,500 ₽ | |
| I eat (examination, consultation) of an oncologist, Specialist of the Institute of Oncology (consultation with preparation of a treatment plan), repeated | 6 500 ₽ | |
| Appointment (examination, consultation) of an oncologist, professor of the Institute of Oncology (consultation with preparation of a treatment plan), primary | 11,000 ₽ | |
| Appointment (examination, consultation) with an oncologist, professor of the Institute of Oncology (consultation with preparation of a treatment plan), repeated | 10,000 ₽ | |
| 9 000 ₽ | ||
| Appointment (examination, consultation) of an oncologist, chief specialist in oncology, repeated | 7 500 ₽ |
| Primary remote consultation of an oncologist | 6 500 ₽ |
| Repeated remote consultation of an oncologist | 5 500 ₽ |
| Remote consultation of an oncologist, PhD, primary | 9,000 ₽ |
| Remote consultation of an oncologist, PhD, repeated oncology specialist, primary | 9,000 ₽ |
| Remote consultation of an oncologist, chief specialist in oncology, repeated and (consultation with treatment plan), primary | 7 500 ₽ |
| Remote consultation of an oncologist, specialist of the Institute of Oncology (consultation with preparation of a treatment plan), repeated | 6 500 ₽ |
| Remote consultation of an oncologist, professor of the Institute of Oncology (consultation with preparation of a treatment plan), primary naya | 10 000 ₽ |
| Remote consultation with an oncologist at the Israeli clinic Hadassah Medical (including the choice of a doctor) | 27 500 ₽ | |
| Remote consultation of an oncologist, head of the department, Israeli clinic Hadassah Medical | 38 500 ₽ | |
| Remote consultation oncologist at the Israeli clinic Hadassah Medical Professor Alex Lossos | 49 500 ₽ | |
| Appointment (examination, consultation) with an oncologist, head of the bone marrow transplantation department, curator of Hadassah Medical Moscow, Polina Stepensky | 43 000 ₽ | |
| Remote consultation of a specialist in internal medicine, endocrinology and neuroendocrine tumors of the Israeli clinic Hadassah Medical Glasberg Simona | 71 500 ₽ | |
| 71 500 ₽ | ||
| Remote consultation of an oncologist at the Israeli clinic Assuta Hospital Zhivelyuk Irina | 90 000 ₽ | |
| Remote consultation of an oncologist at the Yitzhak Rabin Medical Center in Israel (Beilinson Hospital) Lukman Yehudit Department of PET / CT, Israeli clinic Hadassah Medical Orevi Marina | 88 000 ₽ | |
| Reception (examination, consultation) of a hematologist, professor, head of the hematology department, Israeli clinic Hadassah Medical Vladimir Weinstein | 44 000 ₽ | |
| Remote consultation of a hematologist, professor, head of the hematology department, Israeli clinic Hadassah Medical Vainshtein Vladimir | 55 000 ₽ | Reception (examination, consultation) of an oncologist, professor, director of the institute oncology named after Sharett of the Israeli clinic Hadassah Medical Aaron Popovitzer | 88 000 ₽ |
| Remote consultation of a pediatric oncologist, MD, leading specialist of the department of pediatric hemato-oncology of the Israeli clinic Hadassah Medical Cohen Odai | 73 500 ₽ | |
| Appointment (examination, consultation) with an oncologist, oncourologist, head of the outpatient oncology department at the Yitzhak Rabin Medical Center (Beilinson Hospital) Neiman Vita | 44,000 ₽ | |
| Reception (examination, consultation ) oncologist of the Israeli clinic Assuta Hospital Zhivelyuk Irina | 44 000 ₽ | |
| Remote consultation of an oncologist, professor, Head of the Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Tumors of the Israeli clinic Hadassah Medical Hubert Ayaly | 71 500 ₽ | |
| Remote consultation of a pediatric oncologist, hematologist, Dror Levin -oncologist, oncosurgeon, professor, head of the department of oncosurgery, Rambam Health Care clinic Campus Eli Kakiashvili | 33 000 ₽ | |
| Remote consultation of an oncologist, MD, head of the oncogenetics department of the Israeli clinic Hadassah Medical Kaduri Luna 9Netanel Asher | ||
| Remote consultation with an oncologist, professor, chief oncologist of the northern region of Israel, gastro-oncologist Irit Ben Aharoni | 0007 | 55 000 ₽ |
| Remote consultation of a neurosurgeon, specialist in brain surgery, deputy head of the neurosurgery department of the Israeli clinic Assuta Hospital Margalita Nevo | 67 000 ₽ | |
| Remote consultation of an oncologist, onco-pulmonologist, Elisabeth Dudnik | 81 500 ₽ | |
| Remote consultation of an oncologist, oncourologist, head of the outpatient oncology department of the Yitzhak Rabin Medical Center (Beilinson Hospital) Neumann V ita | 90 000 ₽ | |
| Remote consultation of an oncologist, MD, leading specialist of the oncology department of the Israeli clinic Hadassah Medical Mark Tempera | 47 500 ₽ | Remote consultation of a gastroenterologist oncologist, head of the department malignant neoplasms of the gastrointestinal tract of the Israeli clinic Assuta Hospital Esther Tachover | 66 000 ₽ |
| Remote consultation of an oncologist, leading specialist of the Institute of Oncology of the Israeli clinic Assuta Hospital Yulia Grinberg | 65 000 ₽ | |
| Remote consultation of an oncologist, oncosurgeon, professor, head of the oncosurgery department of the Israeli clinic Rambam Health Care Campus Eli Kakiashvili | 40 500 ₽ | |
| Correspondence consultation of an oncologist according to primary documents | 6 500 ₽ | |
| Remote consultation of an oncologist according to documents repeated | 5 500 ₽ | |
| Correspondence consultation of an oncologist, candidate of medical sciences, according to documents primary | 9,000 ₽ | |
| Correspondence consultation of an oncologist, PhD, repeated according to documents neurooncologist, leading specialist of the oncology department of the Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov) Felix Bokshtein | 60 500 ₽ | |
| Oncological consultation | participation of foreign specialists | Rs. 0010 |
| Remote consultation of an oncologist, professor, Alona Zer-Koch | 79 000 ₽ | |
| Remote consultation with Yakir Rotenberg, an oncologist at the Israeli clinic Hadassah Medical | 28 500 ₽ | |
| Remote consultation of a neurologist, neurooncologist, head of the neurooncological service of the Medical Center Ichilov Rabina (Beilinson Hospital) Felix Bukshtein | 54 000 ₽ 9000 7 | |
| Remote consultation of an oncologist, head of the radiotherapy and radiosurgery department at the Yitzhak Rabin Medical Center (Beilinson Hospital), Leading Oncologist Herzliya Medical Center Fenig Eyal | 82 500 ₽ | |
| Remote consultation of an oncologist, director of the neuro-oncological unit of the Chaim Sheba Medical Center (Tel Hashomer) Helen Toledano at the Medical Center named after Yitzhak Rabin (Beilinson Hospital) Gal Merkel | 75,000 ₽ | |
| Remote consultation of a radiologist, oncologist, candidate of medical sciences, professor of the University of Murcia (Spain) Dzhugashvili Maya | 25 000 ₽ |
| Fine-needle aspiration biopsy of the thyroid or parathyroid gland under ultrasound control | 6 9 00 ₽ | |
| Spinal puncture | 14 300 ₽ | |
| Venous Port Care ( port flushing) | 3 300 ₽ | |
| Applying a small aseptic dressing | 880 ₽ | |
| Applying a large aseptic dressing | 1,700 ₽ | |
| Trepan biopsy of the bone marrow of the iliac wing | 22,000 ₽ | |
| Aspiration biopsy of the bone marrow 90 007 | $11,000 $ | |
| Phlebotomy | $5,500 $ |
| Laparoscopic nephrectomy | Installation of radio tags under the control of computed tomography (without the cost of radio tags) 1-3 pcs. | 15,400 RUB |
| CT-guided trephine biopsy of bones | 42,000 RUB | |
| formations (any location) with sampling for cytological examination | 13 200 ₽ | |
| pleural cavity | 11,000 ₽ |
| Treatment with Carboplatin-Teva 150 mg (1 vial) | 1,700 RUB |
| Treatment with Carboplatin-Teva 450 mg (1 vial) | 3,900 RUB |
90 000 Lymphoma. Treat to cure
Home
About the hospital
media center
News
Lymphoma.
Treat to cure
— We often see news stories about children who have leukemia or lymphoma. It seems that adults are not susceptible to oncohematological diseases. Is it so?
— In fact, most hematological cancer patients are adults. According to the National Cancer Registry, in 2018, more than 7,000 cases of diseases of lymphoid and hematopoietic tissues were registered in Ukraine, of which less than 400 were in children. Patients under 18 years of age get sick less often, their oncohematological processes proceed more favorably, the risks increase only in adolescents 15 years of age and older. But for adult patients, oncohematological diseases are characteristic, which often have a severe course and sometimes a fatal outcome.
About 50% of all oncohematological diseases are lymphoproliferative processes, that is, lymphomas of varying degrees of malignancy, chronic lymphocytic leukemia and other diseases of a lymphoid nature that are characteristic of adults.
— At what age do the risks of “getting” oncohematological disease increase?
— Oncohematological diseases in adults have different age peaks. For example, Hodgkin’s lymphoma has two age peaks of incidence: the first is from 18 to 30 years, the second is over the age of 55 years. With regard to non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas, there are no such pronounced peaks in the incidence. Young patients are more likely to suffer from acute leukemia, while the disease has a more aggressive course, while in older people such processes are more favorable, but it depends on the variant of the disease.
I want to emphasize that today there is a very clear trend in all oncological diseases – the so-called “rejuvenation”. That is, all those oncohematological processes that were previously characteristic mainly of the elderly are now quite often seen in young patients. This also applies to lymphomas, and chronic myeloid leukemia, and even chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
In addition, we note different variants of the course of diseases, we see non-standard mutations, changes in the bone marrow, in the genetic profile of the disease, which were not previously characteristic of these processes and it was not possible to detect them. On the one hand, this complicates our task. But on the other hand, every day our capabilities are expanding and more and more targeted drugs appear (that is, they purposefully affect a specific cellular system) for the treatment of these diseases.
— Is it possible to suspect oncohematological disease based on a general blood test?
— Yes, if a very high level of leukocytes is found in the patient’s blood during examination, this gives the doctor reason to suspect a pathology of the hematopoietic system and recommend further examination. In most cases, a multiple increase in the number of leukocytes indicates the development of acute or chronic leukemia.
But most often, a blood test can be normal or with slight deviations – and a person who has turned to a family doctor with complaints of feeling unwell is treated for gastritis, myocarditis, colitis, pneumonia, etc.
, skipping lymphoma, myeloma disease, chronic lymphocytic leukemia. It should be remembered that one blood test alone is not enough to diagnose these diseases.
– What are the symptoms of lymphoma?
– These are enlarged, painless lymph nodes. The patient notes that he lost weight, although there were no changes in the daily routine and nutrition. There is often a prolonged fever without any symptoms of a cold. Also, patients with lymphoma often complain of increased night sweats – up to the point that in the middle of the night you have to change pajamas and bedding.
– How is lymphoma diagnosed?
— It happens that a person himself discovers enlarged lymph nodes — cervical, submandibular or axillary, that is, those that are accessible to palpation. Or they are found by a specialist when a patient goes to a family doctor, dentist, otolaryngologist. If the lymph node is enlarged for a month or more, this is a reason to do an ultrasound scan and take a biopsy.
Because, unfortunately, very often such a symptom is the debut of a lymphoproliferative disease – Hodgkin’s or non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, sometimes lymphocytic leukemia.
Do not be afraid of a lymph node biopsy – this procedure, if performed correctly, does not pose a danger to the patient’s health and at the same time helps to reliably understand what kind of disease it is. Without a histological examination, no hematologist in the world has the right to prescribe treatment. At the same time, it is very important to confirm the results obtained in one more, and preferably in two independent laboratories.
Very often, when patients from other clinics and regions come to LISOD, we understand that their histological preparations need to be clarified and rechecked. The equipment of laboratories does not always allow for a complete examination of the material, the diagnoses that are established initially do not always correspond to the modern classification, so we suggest that the patient get an alternative opinion from the reference laboratory.
It can be either a Ukrainian laboratory or one located abroad, either chosen by the patient himself or recommended by us.
If the histological results confirm that the patient has lymphoma, we need to find out how advanced the disease is. The most accurate diagnostic method for patients with lymphomas is PET-CT, since with its help we see not only the lymph nodes involved, but also the bone marrow lesion, as well as the degree of activity of the pathological process. This is exactly the tool that will help us establish the stage of the disease, plan the right treatment, and further evaluate its effectiveness.
Various instrumental methods are also used. For example, since there are a number of lymphomas that occur against the background of Helicobacter-positive gastritis or are localized in the intestine, endoscopic studies (gastro-, colonoscopy, etc.) are necessary for such patients.
— Why does lymphoma occur? What provokes the development of the disease?
– Hodgkin’s lymphoma is associated with Epstein-Barr virus infection in almost 100% of cases.
If a person has a high titer of antibodies to the virus in their blood or has a history of infectious mononucleosis (it is also caused by this virus), we are alarmed, because in the future such a person may get Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Maybe – does not necessarily mean sick!
A significant proportion of lymphomas are associated with the human immunodeficiency virus. Such lymphomas stand out in a separate group, require special attention, more intensive and aggressive treatment.
There are so-called MALT lymphomas associated with infection with Helicobacter pylori. Such a disease can be compared to winning the lottery. Like a Helicobacter infection, this lymphoma is treated with antibiotics—even without chemotherapy.
– Is lymphoma a curable disease? What treatments are most effective?
— Today, most oncological and oncohematological diseases can be cured. If a lymphoproliferative, myeloproliferative process is detected at an early stage, it can be cured.
Lymphomas at the first, second, third and even at the fourth stage can be cured thanks to modern treatment regimens, targeted drugs, bone marrow transplantation technologies, CAR T-cell therapy, therapy with T-lymphocytes with chimeric antigen receptors. In Ukraine, not all technologies are available to patients yet, but this is a matter of time. By the way, the specialists of the Israeli clinic Ichilov (including Professor Mittelman, who oversees the direction of oncohematology at LISOD) were pioneers in the use of CAR T-cell therapy. Today it is one of the most effective methods of treating lymphomas at an advanced stage.
In case of disease progression, relapse or refractory course, even if the patient cannot be completely cured, we can prolong his life and improve its quality.
— Does LISOD treat lymphomas and other hematological malignancies?
— Yes, we have an oncohematology department with a team of excellent specialists.
I have already mentioned Professor Mittelman, with whom we are constantly in touch. He is one of the best hematologists in Israel, president of the Israeli Society of Hematology and Transfusiology, who remotely accompanies the treatment of all our patients. Also Irina Dyagil – Doctor of Medical Sciences, Honored Doctor of Ukraine, a recognized authority in the field of clinical and experimental hematology. With such a team, we can do almost anything.
Our patients receive chemo-targeted therapy, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy in accordance with the recommendations of international protocols. So far, we do not provide high-dose chemotherapy and CAR T-cell therapy, but we are confidently moving in the direction of development, and our direct connection with the Ichilov clinic contributes to this.
We already have our own achievements in this area: several cases of successful treatment of fairly rare types of leukemia.
We accept patients with all types of lymphomas.
Prior to transplantation, they can receive all types of chemotherapy at LISOD, including intensive (salvage therapy) prior to high-dose chemotherapy. We have examples of successful treatment of very advanced lymphomas. Patients turned to us as a last resort, as they were denied therapy in other medical institutions. After several courses of immunotherapy, they began to feel very well and lead a fairly active lifestyle. And this proves that advanced lymphomas need to be treated in order to prolong life for people and improve its quality.
And one more of our advantages is full transfusiological support. Our patients do not experience any difficulties in obtaining blood products – red blood cells, plasma, platelets, etc. They do not need to look for donors, we take care of the whole process.
— What is the duration of treatment?
– Depends on the disease. For example, according to the protocol for the treatment of acute leukemia, therapy lasts about one and a half years.
Chronic diseases (myeloid leukemia, lymphocytic leukemia) require treatment from six months, sometimes – throughout life. In this case, the patient lives fully.
It happens that patients with chronic myeloid leukemia who have achieved remission decide to stop therapy – and this is not uncommon in fact. Professor Dyagil, who deals with the treatment of chronic myeloproliferative diseases in the European leukemia network ELNet, can confirm the information that today it is possible to withdraw from targeted drug therapy patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia, provided that deep molecular remission is achieved and maintained for at least 2 years. Over the 20 years of the existence of the era of TKIs – tyrosine kinase inhibitors – we have come to the conclusion that a whole cohort of patients has “grown up” who have achieved stable remission in the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia and need only observation and periodic molecular monitoring.
Patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia undergo a two-year cycle of treatment with venetoclax, obinutuzumab and are under the supervision of a hematologist.
Patients after autologous bone marrow transplantation for multiple myeloma also live for many years simply under observation – without any treatment.
— How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected the treatment of hematological cancer patients at LISOD?
— Patients in our department are as vulnerable as other oncohematology patients around the world. It is clear that the risks of infection and the complicated course of viral infections are higher for them than for ordinary people. We have a special attitude and attention to all patients undergoing treatment. When you are discharged after chemotherapy, please follow the recommendations more carefully and take better care of yourself. We insist on observing the maximum safety rules – self-isolation, mask mode. Please also keep in touch with us and call us if you experience any unusual symptoms. Sometimes signs that patients perceive as a complication of chemotherapy can be the first symptoms of COVID infection, so it is important that the patient reports this in time.