Hodgkins’s lymphoma is a rare form of blood cancer; this arises from lymphocytes which is an essential component of our immune system. What makes it different from other cancer types is its remarkably higher cure rate compared to others, especially when it is identified early.
Despite the advances in treatment, early detection for it still remains a challenge. This disease tends to begin quietly, the symptoms are usually dismissed on the basis of minor infections or fatigue caused by stress. This delay in recognition can allow the disease to progress silently. Hence, raising awareness about these are symptoms are significant.
The early signs that often individuals overlook are:
- Painless swollen lymph nodes:
This is the most common early signs is particularly seen in the groin area, armpit and neck. These lumps are firm and rubbery but not tender in nature. The progress gradually and also tends to fluctuate in size. Hence, since they are not painful individuals tend to not pay attention to it.
Many at times, these lumps are mistaken for infections and hence expect them to disappear on their own. Therefore, any lymph nodes in which the swelling persists beyond two or four weeks must be prompted for a medical evaluation.
- Unexplained fatigue:
The fatigue is often unexplained meaning that it rarely linked to serious illness or extreme physical activity. And this also happens to be persistent in nature.
Often, this consistent fatigue is not relieved by sleep or rest and tends to worsen over time.
- Itching but without a visible rash:
A symptom which is lesser known is generalized itching without visible changes in the skin. This can sometimes affect the entire body or in specific areas of the body. In some cases, the itching tends to be too intense that it disturbs sleep. And it’s also seen to worsen after hot showers and at nights.
- Intermittent fever
Some individuals experience fever, this comes and goes. These fevers are not high enough to alarm an individual and it is often mistaken for a viral infection. Hence since they are irregular and so it is ignored and often self-treated.
- Subtle weight loss:
Weight loss during the early stages is usually gradual and hence goes unnoticed. This becomes significant when the weight loss exceeds 10% of the body weight within 6 months, but the early changes are too easy to miss.
The question arises about why these signs are often missed?
- Most of these signs are non-specific and most of the times this can mimic common conditions.
- They tend to appear gradually and not suddenly, this makes it less susceptible to being noticed in general.
- Most symptoms seen such as fatigue, fever and itching are seen as common in everyday life.
- Most of the times, individuals tend to self-medicate or wait for a longer period of time to resolve such issues which make it worse and delay being diagnosed earlier on.
Hodgkins’s lymphoma is a condition wherein the timing becomes extremely important since it can make a difference. The earlier it is detected, the higher the chances of having being completely cured.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are of the author and not of Health Dialogues. The Editorial/Content team of Health Dialogues has not contributed to the writing/editing/packaging of this article.
