What are the symptoms of lymphoma?

Written by Peng Li Bo
Oncology
Updated on February 19, 2025
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The symptoms of lymphoma usually involve painless, progressive enlargement of the lymph nodes, typically located in areas like the neck, under the jaw, and below the chin. However, beyond these localized symptoms, lymphoma can also present with systemic symptoms, which include fever, night sweats, weight loss, as well as rashes and itching skin. Thus, lymphoma encompasses both local and systemic symptoms.

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Written by Peng Li Bo
Oncology
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Malignant lymphoma chemotherapy regimen

The chemotherapy for malignant lymphoma, I personally don't think is very painful. Actually, lymphoma treatment nowadays not only includes chemotherapy but also targeted therapy and immunotherapy, so it is not very painful. Moreover, generally speaking, the common side effects of chemotherapy include nausea, vomiting, fatigue, poor spirit, constipation, or diarrhea. In clinical practice, these symptoms can be controlled by using antiemetic, hepatoprotective, gastric protective, and cardioprotective drugs. Of course, another common side effect of lymphoma chemotherapy is bone marrow suppression, which can cause a decrease in white blood cells and platelets. However, if there is only a mild decrease, we can restore these levels with oral medication to increase white blood cells or injections to increase white blood cells and platelets. If the suppression is very severe, it could potentially be life-threatening. But strictly speaking, more than 95% of patients can tolerate chemotherapy.

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Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
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Lymphoma occurs in which part?

Lymphoma can develop in many different parts of the body and lymph nodes, with the most common being the enlargement of superficial lymph nodes, such as those in the neck, armpits, and groin. The pharyngeal lymphatic ring, including places like the oropharynx, base of the tongue, and tonsils, also commonly exhibit lymph node enlargement in cases of lymphoma. Additionally, lymphoma frequently occurs in the nasal cavity and the mediastinum in the chest, as well as in the abdomen, including lymphomas of the gastrointestinal tract and primary lymphomas of the liver and spleen, and even the retroperitoneal mesentery and pelvic lymph nodes. The skin and bone marrow can also be primary sites for lymphoma. Thus, it can affect multiple parts of the body, with many areas being susceptible to lymphoma.

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Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
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Lymphoma registration: which department?

Patients diagnosed with lymphoma can register under the departments of Hematology or Oncology, as both departments can administer chemotherapy. However, radiation therapy can only be conducted in the Oncology department. Each hospital may have slightly different categorizations for departments and diseases. However, for a patient initially presenting with lymphoma, who has not yet been diagnosed and primarily shows symptoms of painless lymph node enlargement, they can register under General Surgery. After completing necessary examinations like an ultrasound, if lymphoma is suspected, a lymph node excision biopsy is usually performed in General Surgery.

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Written by Zhou Chen
Oncology
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What to check for malignant lymphoma?

The examination of lymphoma first requires routine blood tests and blood smears. When aggressive lymphoma invades the bone marrow, anemia, decreased white blood cells, and platelets may occur, and lymphoma cells can appear in peripheral blood; therefore, bone marrow smears and biopsies are necessary. Additionally, blood biochemistry is important, as an increase in lactate dehydrogenase is associated with tumor burden and is an indicator of poor prognosis. Furthermore, Hodgkin's lymphoma may involve the central nervous system, so patients with symptoms of central nervous system involvement need to undergo cerebrospinal fluid examination. The most important aspect of lymphoma is the histopathological examination. Based on the histopathological examination, the pathological staging is determined, and genetic rearrangement can also be performed.

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Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
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How is Hodgkin's lymphoma treated?

The treatment of Hodgkin's lymphoma is based on various factors including the stage of the disease as well as the general condition of the patient, among other comprehensive considerations. For patients with early stage Hodgkin's lymphoma, commonly referred to as localized Hodgkin's lymphoma, the treatment principle is a combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. A rational comprehensive treatment can achieve a five-year survival rate of 80% to 90%. For advanced-stage patients, such as those with stage IV Hodgkin's lymphoma, the treatment primarily consists of systemic chemotherapy. Therefore, the choice of a specific treatment plan must also consider a variety of factors based on the patient's overall condition.