How will I know if I have lymphoma?

Most lymphoma patients present with enlarged lymph nodes, most commonly in the neck, groin and armpit, according to consultant haematologist Dr Goh Kim Yean. Usually patients are able to feel these enlargements themselves.



There are instances where patients do not detect any lymph node enlargement but experience other less common symptoms like:


Difficulty breathing – caused by an enlarged lymph node in the chest cavity compressing on the airway.

Abdominal discomfort – caused by enlarged lymph nodes in the stomach.

Intestinal obstruction – caused by enlarged lymph nodes in the bowel walls.
According to Dr Goh, as lymphomas are painless swellings, most patients are misled by the fact that there is no pain and tend to take it lightly.

“Non-cancerous lymph node swellings are usually painful and will reverse once inflammation subsides. Infections in the head and neck region can cause enlarged lymph nodes in the neck, but once the infection resolves, the swelling comes down.

“In lymphoma, the lymph node swellings tend to grow progressively, some faster than others,” she notes.

Types of lymphoma

Source: The Star