Unexplained weight loss, especially consequential or persistent, can indicate an underlying medical condition. If you lose more than 5 percent of your body weight over six months to a year—especially if you are older—a medical evaluation is necessary.
Unexplained weight loss refers to a detectable reduction in body weight without modifications to diet, exercise, or lifestyle. This unintentional weight loss can be very distressing, especially when a considerable amount is lost and the cause is unknown.
If you’ve lost weight unintentionally, your doctor will first take a careful history, look for risk factors for a number of medical conditions, e.g., lymphoma, and perform a physical examination.
2.
Lymph nodes in individuals with lymphoma tend to be less noticeable and have a rubbery consistency. Their enlargement does not come with signs of inflammation and is typically not painful when touched. In contrast to suspected metastases from other types of cancer, lymphoma nodes have a regular shape and can be easily moved.
Peripheral lymph nodes can be felt during a physical examination and are in:
Enlarged lymph nodes can lead to symptoms due to local compression of blood vessels (both venous and lymphatic) or nearby structures and organs.
3.
Fatigue is a fairly common problem these days. An unhealthy lifestyle is the most typical reason for this state of affairs. They are also the easiest to eliminate, which can have favorable impacts on health and well-being.
However, apart from the causes of easy fatigue that have their source in lifestyle, there is a range of serious diseases in which fatigue can be one of the symptoms. One of the causes is lymphoma.
Go to a doctor who, after examining you, will guide the diagnostics in the right direction. Remember to inform the specialist about your illnesses and the medicines you are taking. Do not forget to describe in detail all the symptoms that bother you.
4.
A subcutaneous hematoma is caused by little bleeding from damaged subcutaneous blood vessels. Usually, the cause is minor injuries or contusions, which we experience.
If bruises appear frequently and last a long time, do not ignore them. After all, they do not look aesthetically pleasing, and sometimes they can be a symptom of serious ailments, including lymphoma.
If a bruise or hematoma occurs without any visible trauma, basic blood tests should be performed. In the case of large hematomas surgical intervention may be necessary. Medical intervention is also required when there is a risk of internal injuries and severe internal bleeding.
5.
Fever is a state of increased body temperature, resulting from a change in the settings in the thermoregulatory center. It is a systemic symptom of various diseases and disorders.
It is primarily a defensive reaction in response to various types of infections, inflammations, and other abnormalities in functioning. In the case of infections, it can therefore play a positive role. Due to fever, the production of immune cells called lymphocytes increases, and antibodies are directed against germs. Moreover, high temperature makes it difficult for pathogens to multiply.
On the other hand, remember that fever can also occur on a non-infectious basis, including, among others, in the course of autoimmune diseases, with lymphoma or heart attacks.
6.
A chill is a sensation of cold characterized by involuntary and uncoordinated contractions of small muscle groups. Chills can occur with or without fever. The former most often occur when we are sick or have a cold, then they are a consequence of the stimulation of the thermoregulatory center in the midbrain.
Chills without fever can be more serious, as they may signal underlying health issues. When chills occur alongside a fever, they are typically a pathological response. This response can be triggered by the presence of “fever-inducing” substances in the bloodstream. This type of chill is the most prevalent.
Additionally, chills can be observed during the disintegration of a tumor.
7.
Sweating is a physiological response of our body that helps with thermoregulation. However, there are instances when sweating occurs without heat or physical exertion, such as while at rest or even during sleep. Sweats that are inappropriate for the situation are called cold sweats by many patients.
The appearance of cold sweats on the body is a very non-specific symptom. This symptom can accompany many diseases, starting with a heart attack, through lymphoma, and ending with endocrine disorders.
Discovering the cause of cold sweats often provides many diagnostic difficulties. However, it is worth explaining the reason for the occurrence of these annoying symptoms because some of them are extremely dangerous to health.
8.
Edema occurs when excess fluid leaks from blood or lymph vessels (such as capillaries) and accumulates between cells. Depending on its composition, this excess fluid is classified as either a transudate or an exudate.
In a healthy capillary, the vessel wall functions like a fine sieve, allowing fluid to move in both directions. Under normal conditions, oxygen and nutrients are delivered from the blood to the cells, while metabolic waste and carbon dioxide are reabsorbed back into the blood.
This fluid exchange usually maintains a balance, meaning the amount of fluid leaking out of the vessel is equal to the amount returning.
9.
Nausea and vomiting are common symptoms of the digestive system in cancer patients. They may also happen in oncological treatment.
According to the receptor theory, nausea and vomiting are caused by numerous neurotransmitters that activate receptors located on the endings of the vagus nerve and in the central nervous system (CNS), hence treatment consists of effectively blocking individual receptors involved in the pathomechanism of symptoms.
Therapeutic management in patients with chronic nausea and vomiting should take into account the causes and pathomechanism of symptoms, and detailed clinical assessment, which allows for the implementation of effective treatment and improvement of the quality of life.
10.
Cancer, e.g., lymphoma, can cause inflammation in the body. The rapidly multiplying cancer cells release cytokines, which can mimic the effects of substances that suppress appetite and increase the body’s energy expenditure. Additionally, cancer cells produce factors that lead to the breakdown of proteins (proteolysis) and fat tissue (lipolysis). These biochemical reactions contribute to a decline in the patient’s nutritional status, even if they eat properly.
Many of the treatment side effects negatively impact patients’ nutritional status, leading to malnutrition and, subsequently, a decline in health and a reduction in the effectiveness of treatment.
Typically, the first noticeable sign of this issue is weight loss. Malnutrition can occur even in patients who appear to consume adequate food amounts.
11.
Dyspnea is a subjective feeling of difficulty breathing that compels the patient to increase ventilation or reduce physical activity. It can also be described as a sensation of insufficient air, which varies in intensity depending on physiological, environmental, psychological, and social factors.
Dyspnea is not only a distressing and uncomfortable symptom for the patient, but it also significantly impacts the quality of life for caregivers and loved ones.
This symptom is most frequently linked to the presence of cancer. It can arise from neoplastic invasion of lung tissue, tumor compression of large vessels (such as in superior vena cava syndrome), pleural invasion, pleural effusion, pericardial effusion, or even a high diaphragm position due to peritoneal effusion.
12.As a result of information about the diagnosis, oncology patients may experience a period of emotional instability, which is characterized by increased anxiety, depressed mood, and a reduced number of activities undertaken. These reactions are a natural adaptation to the new situation. Over time, patients learn to cope with the disease and its effects.
However, some patients develop mental disorders that require special treatment. Due to the increased tension resulting from the cancer disease and its treatment, there may be a recurrence or intensification of mental disorders that have already occurred.
The most common mental disorders include adaptation problems, depressive disorders, and anxiety disorders. Their diagnosis is essential because untreated mental disorders have a significant impact on the functioning of patients.
