Early lymphoma signs: Why sudden weight loss shouldn't be ignored
People aged 20 to 30, as well as those over 50, can develop lymphatic system cancer. The symptoms of lymphoma can be nonspecific, making them easy to confuse with other ailments. They often appear several months before a proper diagnosis is made. Here’s what to keep an eye out for.
7 July 2024 16:48
The lymphatic system includes lymph nodes, tonsils, spleen, bone marrow, and thymus. Its primary function is to protect the body from infections. Unfortunately, it is also susceptible to various types of lymphomas, such as multiple myeloma, chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, skin lymphomas, and Hodgkin lymphoma, also known as malignant lymphoma.
Lymphoma strikes at practically any age
Significant risk factors include chronic viral and bacterial infections, genetic predispositions, and environmental toxic substances. Since there are as many as 103 types of lymphoma, the symptoms can be diverse. Unfortunately, for many people, they are not obvious. In many cases, they can be mistaken for a cold, skin problems, or an allergic reaction to alcohol.
Patients with lymphoma may experience fever in the afternoon, enlarged lymph nodes, bloating, coughing, shortness of breath, abdominal pain, and difficulty urinating. Tumours may also be in atypical locations, pressing on internal organs and causing paralysis, paraesthesia, jaundice, or respiratory infections. One of the early symptoms of lymphoma can be weight loss unrelated to diet or weight loss medications. Therefore, monitoring weight is very important.
Monitor your weight. It's an important symptom
In an interview with WP abcZdrowie, the head of the Haematology and Transplantology Clinic at the University Clinical Centre in Gdańsk, Prof. Dr. Andrzej Nowak emphasises that unjustified weight loss is one of the critical symptoms. Even though the patient is not dieting, we observe a significant reduction in body weight without any other ailments. This could be the first symptom of lymphoma, preceding diagnosis by several months.
Remember, none of the mentioned symptoms should be ignored. Action is crucial in this case. Quick diagnosis and proper treatment implementation can significantly increase the chances of recovery, even in very aggressive forms of lymphoma.
An important fact is that many forms of lymphoma can be cured entirely, and many people live with this cancer as a chronic disease for 20-30 years. It all depends on early recognition.
