Typical symptoms of lymphoma

Written by Zhou Zi Hua
Oncology
Updated on September 13, 2024
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Typical symptoms of lymphoma include night sweats, fever, and weight loss. This fever often occurs in the afternoon, characterized as a cyclical fever that lasts for several days with irregular patterns. There are fever-free intervals ranging from a few days to several weeks, almost a nonspecific symptom but not commonly seen. Fever, night sweats, and unexplained weight loss of more than 10% within six months, or even emaciation, are considered B symptoms and are associated with a poor prognosis. In addition, skin itching is also not uncommon in late-stage patients.

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Early symptoms of lymphoma

The early symptoms of lymphoma involve the painless enlargement of both superficial and deep lymph nodes, most commonly located in areas such as the neck, armpits, and groin. Of course, lymphoma also presents with systemic symptoms, such as fever, night sweats, weight loss, and skin itching. Since lymphoma commonly occurs in the neck, armpits, and groin, if it develops in other areas, such as the lungs or elsewhere, it may cause respiratory symptoms, including coughing, expectoration, and shortness of breath.

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Is lymphoma contagious?

Current research has not found lymphoma to have a very clear genetic predisposition or familial clustering. This is entirely different from familial breast cancer and colon cancer. Although there are many causes of lymphoma, and it is likely related to certain bacterial and viral infections, the mechanism of tumor occurrence is very complex. Infection is only one of the external factors, and currently, there is no evidence that lymphoma has tendencies for contagion or outbreaks. Therefore, as a relative of a lymphoma patient, the risk of developing lymphoma is not significantly higher than that of the general population, so there is no need for excessive worry.

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Can people with lymphoma eat beef?

The diet for lymphoma patients isn't particularly special; it’s just like the diet of healthy individuals, with no need for specific dietary restrictions. Moreover, there aren't any prohibitions related to "hot-natured" foods as mentioned in traditional Chinese medicine. From a Western medicine perspective, the focus is simply on enhancing the patient's nutrition. This can be achieved by eating smaller, more frequent meals, and ensuring a balanced diet with a good mix of meat and vegetables. There are no special dietary taboos; all foods are permissible, provided one avoids junk food. Therefore, foods like beef and lamb are perfectly acceptable.

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Which department do you go to for lymphoma?

If a lump is found on the neck and lymphoma is suspected, the first step is to consult with the head and neck surgery department. The lymphoma lesion will be surgically removed by the department, and then sent for a pathological examination. If lymphoma is confirmed, the next steps involve treatment by the oncology department, hematology department, or radiation therapy department.

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What department should lymphoma go to?

Lymphoma can be treated in the departments of hematology or oncology, where chemotherapy for lymphoma can be conducted by both. In our hospital, radiotherapy is performed in the oncology department, not by the hematology department, which only provides chemotherapy. If lymphoma has not been confirmed and there is only superficial lymph node enlargement clinically, then examinations such as ultrasound or PADCT suggest the possibility of lymphoma. In such cases, patients can visit the general surgery department for a lymph node biopsy to confirm the diagnosis. After confirmation, the patient can register in either the hematology or oncology department for further treatment.