The pattern of fever in lymphoma

Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
Updated on September 23, 2024
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Fever symptoms are quite common in patients with lymphoma, which we refer to as B symptoms. The pattern of their fevers is primarily low-grade, occurring more frequently in the afternoon or evening. Unlike ordinary bacterial infections, fevers in these patients do not respond well to anti-inflammatory drugs, but they do respond better to steroid treatment for reducing fever. However, if the lymphoma is not under control, their fever will repeatedly recur. Corresponding cooling treatments can reduce the temperature, but the fever will reoccur repeatedly. Only when the lymphoma and tumor are under control will the fever symptoms start to improve.

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Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
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Symptoms of Lymphoma

The symptoms of lymphoma mostly present as painless enlarged superficial lymph nodes, which are common clinical manifestations. Additionally, there may be enlargement of the liver and spleen, with multiple organs throughout the body possibly affected. In advanced stages, patients may experience invasion of the bone marrow. There are also special types of extranodal lymphomas which exhibit specific symptoms. For instance, lymphomas originating in the stomach may present with upper abdominal masses, or symptoms like anemia, weight loss, black stools, and even upper abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting related to the gastrointestinal tract. If the lymphoma originates in the nasal cavity, known as NK/T-cell lymphoma, symptoms may include tinnitus, nasal congestion, runny nose, and nosebleeds, among others. Some lymphoma patients may also experience fever, generalized weakness, weight loss, collectively referred to as B symptoms.

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Written by Wu Xia
Oncology
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How long can lymphoma last?

In clinical practice, lymphomas are classified into Hodgkin's lymphoma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is a relatively common type of tumor in China and has the highest incidence among lymphomas. However, it is further divided into dozens of subtypes, each with distinct clinical symptoms. Aggressive lymphomas can be cured, while indolent lymphomas can be managed with the tumor remaining. Thus, the question of how long one can live with lymphoma cannot be generalized; it depends on the type and stage of the disease, and many can be cured completely.

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Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
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Is lymphoma a cancer?

Cancer actually refers to malignant tumors. Malignant tumors are named differently based on their site of origin. For example, those originating from epithelial tissue are called carcinomas, such as lung cancer, liver cancer, colon cancer, etc. Lymphoma refers to a malignant tumor originating from lymph nodes or tissues or organs outside the lymph nodes, which we call lymphoma. There are also some malignant tumors originating from mesenchymal tissue, which we call sarcomas. Therefore, lymphoma is also a malignant tumor and is considered a type of cancer.

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Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
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Is lymphoma the same as lymphatic cancer?

Lymphoma refers to a type of malignant tumor that originates in lymph nodes or extranodal tissues or organs. The cancer we usually talk about refers to malignant tumors originating from epithelial tissues, which we call cancer, such as lung cancer, liver cancer, etc. Therefore, lymphoma is actually what non-medical professionals commonly refer to as lymphatic cancer. It is simply called lymphoma instead of cancer because it originates in lymph nodes or extranodal tissues or organs, and therefore, it is termed malignant lymphoma, which in layman's terms is lymphatic cancer.

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Oncology
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Hodgkin's lymphoma symptoms and signs

Actually, whether it is Hodgkin's lymphoma or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, the symptoms and signs are quite similar. In terms of symptoms, because lymphoma mainly occurs as a lesion in the lymph nodes, it is characterized by superficial, localized enlargement of the lymph nodes. Common locations include the neck, then the armpits, and the groin—areas where lymph nodes are more prevalent. It manifests as a local swelling; simply put, you might feel a lump or a tumor on your neck, which is the most common symptom. Additionally, there are other systemic symptoms including fever, weight loss, night sweats, and itchy skin, among others. As for the physical signs, it mainly refers to palpable superficial lymph node enlargement upon examination.