Hodgkin lymphoma - Symptoms of Hodgkin lymphoma

The most common symptom of Hodgkin lymphoma is a swelling in the neck, armpit or groin. The swelling is usually painless, although some people find that it aches.

The swelling is caused by an excess of affected lymphocytes (white blood cells) collecting in a lymph node (also called lymph glands). Lymph nodes are pea-sized lumps of tissue found throughout the body. They contain white blood cells that help to fight infection.

However, it is highly unlikely that you have Hodgkin lymphoma if you have swollen lymph nodes, as these glands often swell as a response to infection.

Read more information about lumps and swellings.

Other symptoms

Some people with Hodgkin lymphoma also have other more general symptoms. These can include:

• night sweats
• unexplained weight loss
• a high temperature (fever)
• persistent tiredness or fatigue
• difficulty recovering from infections or developing infections more often
• a persistent cough or feeling of breathlessness
• persistent itching of the skin all over the body

Other symptoms will depend on where in the body the enlarged lymph glands are. For example, if the abdomen (tummy) is affected, you may have abdominal pain or indigestion.

A few people with Hodgkin lymphoma have abnormal cells in their bone marrow when they are diagnosed. This can reduce the number of healthy cells in the blood and cause some of the above symptoms. It can also cause excessive bleeding, such as nosebleeds, heavy periods and spots of blood under the skin.

In some cases, people with Hodgkin lymphoma experience pain in their lymph glands when they drink alcohol.

When to seek medical advice

See your GP if you have any of the above symptoms, particularly if you have persistently swollen glands with no other signs of infection.

While the symptoms are unlikely to be caused by Hodgkin lymphoma, it is best to get them checked out.