Swollen lymph nodes will feel like soft, round bumps, and they may be the size of a pea or a grape. They might be tender to the touch, which indicates inflammation. In some cases, the lymph nodes will also look larger than usual. Lymph nodes appear in parallel on both sides of the body. People can check the nodes on each side and compare them to see if one is larger than the other, which is likely to indicate swelling. Many people with swollen glands also experience pain while making sudden or strained movements.
Such movements include sharply turning the neck, bobbing the head, or eating foods that are difficult to chew. Swollen lymph nodes often occur alongside other symptoms. These vary depending on the underlying problem but may include a sore throat , cough, or flu-like symptoms.
Many different conditions cause the lymph nodes to swell, particularly the nodes in the head and neck. These conditions include autoimmune disorders, specific types of cancer , and common infections, such as the flu. Certain medications, such as antimalarials and antiseizure drugs, can also cause swelling. Most people have localized lymphadenopathy, in which only the lymph nodes in one particular area of the body swell up.
When more than one region swells, this is called generalized lymphadenopathy, and it usually signifies a systemic, or body-wide, disease that may require medical attention. Cat scratch fever , which is also called cat scratch disease, can cause localized lymph node swelling in the area near the cat scratch. Certain risk factors make a person more likely to have a malignant lymph problem, such as lymphoma. These include :. People with a malignant lymph node may notice that the node feels hard or rubbery.
They may also experience systemic symptoms, such as fever , night sweats, and unexplained weight loss. Sexually transmitted infections STIs , such as syphilis and gonorrhea , can cause swollen lymph nodes, typically in the groin area.
Lymph nodes in the groin are also known as inguinal lymph nodes. Recurring infections, lower body infections, and injury to the legs can also cause swollen lymph nodes in the groin. In many cases, swelling reduces and then disappears within 2 to 3 weeks once the body has successfully fought the infection.
If the problem persists for longer than a couple of weeks, it might warrant a visit to the doctor. However, they may also order medical tests to determine the cause of the swelling. These tests may include a routine blood test to look for signs of infection. Imaging tests can help a doctor look closely at the lymph nodes and the surrounding structures of the body. Imaging tests include:. Speak to your doctor for advice about managing your individual symptoms.
Staging is the process of working out how many different parts of your body are affected by lymphoma. The following symptoms are referred to as B symptoms:.
Doctors will take into account whether you have any B symptoms when they plan your treatment. Lymph nodes help to fight infection. A swollen lymph node or nodes is the most common symptom of lymphoma — but lymphoma is not the most common cause of swollen lymph nodes.
Most people who have swollen lymph nodes do not have lymphoma. More common causes of swollen lymph nodes include:. Swollen lymph nodes caused by infections are usually sensitive or painful to the touch. The swelling normally goes down within 2 or 3 weeks. Having swollen lymph nodes does not necessarily mean you have lymphoma.
Lymph nodes in the neck, armpit or groin are close to the surface of the skin and are easy to see and feel. If these swell, they might cause pain if they press on internal tissues, or they might only be found on a scan.
Around 2 in 3 people with lymphoma have swollen lymph nodes that they can feel. It might be the only sign that anything is wrong. Swollen lymph nodes in lymphoma are caused by a build-up of cancerous cells in the lymph nodes. Sometimes the disease is active, making lots of cancerous cells, while at other times it quietens down and some of the cells die.
This means the swollen lymph nodes can sometimes grow and shrink, especially in people with low-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Fatigue is overwhelming physical, emotional or mental exhaustion for no obvious reason. It isn't relieved by sleep or rest.
Sometimes even simple daily tasks, such as getting dressed, can feel too much. Many conditions can make you feel fatigued, including anaemia low red blood cell count , underactive thyroid, depression and anxiety, chronic fatigue syndrome and glandular fever. If you feel fatigued, it does not necessarily mean that you have lymphoma. Exactly why lymphoma causes fatigue is not known.
It is likely that there are several reasons for it. If you are experiencing fatigue, speak to your doctor. We also have some suggestions that may help you cope with fatigue. For an average person, this means losing around half a stone 7lbs or more. For example, a person who usually weighs 11 stone 70kg might lose 15lbs 7kg or more.
Weight loss can happen in people with lymphoma because cancerous cells use up your energy resources. In addition, your body uses energy trying to get rid of the cancerous cells. Weight loss is more common with lymphomas that grow very quickly and put a sudden demand on your body.
As with many other symptoms, weight loss can happen for a lot of other reasons, such as stress, depression, diseases of the digestive tract, or overactive thyroid. Lymphoma is just one of the possible causes of unexplained weight loss. If you have night sweats, it does not necessarily mean you have lymphoma. Night sweats can also be caused by other conditions, such as a viral infection, anxiety, menopause or some medicines.
Night sweats may also be a response to some of the chemicals produced by the lymphoma cells. Lymphoma can cause night sweats that are severe enough to make your nightclothes and bed linen soaking wet. They can happen with any type of lymphoma.
Although they are usually called night sweats, they can also sometimes happen during the day. There are things you can do that might help you to cope with night sweats , but do also speak to your medical team for advice.
Contact your doctor if you have night sweats that regularly wake you up or if you also have other symptoms, such as fever or unexplained weight loss. It is not usually serious. Although itching is common in people with lymphoma, having itchy skin does not necessarily mean you have lymphoma.
Itching affects around 1 in 3 people with Hodgkin lymphoma and 1 in 10 people with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Even when the lumps are a result of swollen lymph nodes, lymphoma is not always the cause.
Such swelling can also be produced by certain autoimmune diseases, infection, inflammation, or can occur without an identifiable cause. Jacobsen recommends that individuals promptly see a licensed medical professional when the lumps are accompanied by other potential symptoms of lymphoma, such as a fever, night sweats , or weight loss. He joined the division of Hematologic Malignancies in Published: June 17, Updated: February 26, Medically Reviewed By: Eric D.
Jacobsen, MD. Key Takeaways: Lumps under the skin — usually in the neck, armpit, or groin area — can be a symptom of lymphoma. If appropriate, a doctor may want you to undergo a biopsy of the lymph node. It is impossible to determine if a swollen lymph node is cancerous by simply touching it.
About the Medical Reviewer Dr.
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