Symptoms
The most common symptom of Hodgkin lymphoma is a painless swelling in a lymph node. This can be in an area of the body such as the neck, armpit or groin.
Lymph nodes commonly swell if we have an infection but they usually go back to normal over a short time. With lymphoma, the lymph nodes often grow slowly and may be there for months or years before they're noticed. But sometimes they grow very quickly.
Usually, the swollen nodes don't hurt. But some people say their lumps ache or are painful. And for some they are painful after drinking alcohol.
Other general symptoms
You might have other symptoms such as:
- heavy sweating, especially at night
- high temperatures that come and go with no obvious cause, often overnight
- losing a lot of weight over a short period of time, despite eating well
- itching, which may be worse after drinking alcohol
- cough or shortness of breath
- tummy (abdominal) pain or vomiting after drinking alcohol
Hodgkin lymphoma in the bone marrow
Some people have Hodgkin lymphoma in their bone marrow when they're diagnosed. If you have this, it can cause the following symptoms:
- shortness of breath and tiredness because of anaemia from a low red blood cell count
- increased risk of infections because of a low white cell count
- bleeding problems such as nosebleeds, very heavy periods, or a rash of tiny blood spots under the skin because of a low platelet count
Other possible symptoms
Other symptoms will depend on where in your body the Hodgkin lymphoma is. Swollen lymph nodes can:
- press on nerves and cause pain
- cause swelling in arms or legs by blocking the flow of lymphatic fluid around the body
- cause yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice) by blocking the flow of bile from the liver
None of these are common symptoms, but they can happen. You may also have small lumps (nodules) on your skin, usually near the swollen lymph nodes.
