Symptoms:

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma can cause a variety of symptoms. Symptoms depend on what area of the body is affected by the cancer. Symptoms may include:

• Excessive sweating, especially while sleeping at night
• Fever
• Severe itchiness
• Swollen lymph nodes in the neck, underarms, groin, or other areas
• Unintentional weight loss

Coughing or shortness of breath may occur if the cancer affects the thymus gland or lymph nodes in the chest, which puts pressure on the windpipe (trachea) or other airways.

Some patients may have abdominal pain or swelling, which may lead to a loss of appetite, constipation, nausea, and vomiting.

If the cancer affects cells in the brain, the person may have a headache, concentration problems, personality changes, or seizures.

Signs and tests:

The doctor will perform a physical exam and check body areas with lymph nodes to feel if they are swollen. Tests to diagnose and stage non-Hodgkin's lymphoma include:

• Blood chemistry tests
• Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy
• CBC with white blood cell differential
• CT scans of the chest, abdomen and pelvis
• Lymph node biopsy
• PET (positron emission tomography) scan
• X-rays