Living with lymphoma is no easy thing. While many cases of it are treatable and the prognosis can be quite encouraging, one of your best defenses against the disease has to be to get ahead of it. This means identifying the first signs and symptoms of lymphoma before it has had a chance to spread to other parts of the body.
The problem, however, is that lymphoma in its early stages is quite similar to other less serious heath problems and the symptoms can be deceiving. For example, one of the most common signs is a swelling of the lymph nodes, which can resemble a cold or a respiratory infection that tends to linger too long. If you're like most people, the tendency is to ignore it assuming the problem will self-correct and go away on its own. This allows the lymphoma to advance even further in the body causing even more health issues. The best way to fight it is to know what the symptoms are and when you need to get to a doctor for treatment.
Early Signs And Symptoms Of Lymphoma:
Aside from imitating the common cold virus, there are other signs and symptoms that you should know about. The swelling in the lymph nodes (lymphadenopathy) is only the beginning. The first signs and symptoms of lymphoma can also include swelling in the neck or armpits. While this is where the disease is most often noticed first, always check for the swelling in other parts of the body as well. Sometimes the swelling is not readily apparent so you have to check for other signs. For example, swelling in the groin could be the source of swelling in the legs and ankles, and swelling in the abdomen could be the source of cramping and bloating.
Other Signs And Symptoms Of Lymphoma:
There are cases of lymphoma where there has been no swelling at all. In those cases, patients often complain of other symptoms like night sweats, excessive weight loss, chills, low energy levels, or itching. In these cases, there may be no pain involved. In fact, in the earlier stages of the disease, it is not likely that you'll experience any pain but these additional symptoms will be the only key that will help you to identify the signs of lymphoma.
Lymphoma can sneak up on you without any warning. Always be on the lookout for symptoms like high fevers without cause, persistent coughing that won't go away, breathlessness, persistent itching all over the body without a cause or a rash, general fatigue, enlarged tonsils, and headaches.
In the first signs and symptoms of lymphoma it will not be readily apparent that you have developed this disease. Without pain, most people tend to brush off symptoms that could be an indication of something less severe. Once you're able to identify the potential of lymphoma the only way to know for sure is to visit your doctor. Through a direct examination and proper testing you can get a firm diagnosis. Once diagnosed, you can start a course of treatment that can get the symptoms and the disease under control. But this has a better chance of success when you can identify the early stages of lymphoma before it becomes serious.