Do you or someone you know have lymphoma?
Are you looking for more information about lymphoma symptoms in women?
This article provides all the details you need.
What is lymphoma?
Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system, part of the body's germ-fighting network.
The lymphatic system includes the lymph nodes, spleen, thymus gland, and bone marrow.
Lymphoma can affect all those areas and other organs throughout the body.
Factors increasing the risk of lymphoma in women
Age
Some types of lymphoma are more common in young women, while others are most often diagnosed in women over 55 years.
Impaired immune system
Lymphoma is more common in women with immune system diseases.
Or in women who take drugs that suppress their immune system.
Developing certain infections
Some infections are associated with an increased risk of lymphoma.
Like Epstein-Barr virus and Helicobacter pylori infection.
Common lymphoma symptoms in women
1. Fatigue
Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms of lymphoma in women.
Fatigue is more than just feeling tired when you haven’t had enough sleep.
It’s feeling extremely tired, even when you’ve had plenty of rest.
Fatigue can even make it difficult for you to complete your daily tasks.
However, fatigue is a general symptom of many medical conditions, medications, or lifestyle habits.
If you receive chemotherapy or radiation therapy, you may feel fatigued during or after your treatment.
Some women continue to experience fatigue for weeks, months, or even years after treatment ends.
Talk to your doctor about the best treatment options if you experience fatigue.
2. Excessive sweating
Night sweats are a “B symptom” of all types of lymphoma in women.
It’s important to know whether night sweats are caused by lymphoma.
Because the presence of sweating can inform the stage and outlook of your disease.
It may be difficult to identify night sweats as a lymphoma symptom if you’re also going through perimenopause.
During this time, hot flashes and night sweats are common symptoms.
3. Pain
Lymphoma usually doesn’t cause pain unless an enlarged lymph node puts pressure on surrounding tissues or nerves.
However, if lymphoma affects the bones, it can cause bone pain.
Lymphoma may affect your bones if you have primary lymphoma of the bone, or if you have cancer that spreads to your bones.
You might also experience pain while recovering from surgery.
Research shows that people of all genders tend to underestimate women’s physical pain.
This bias could play a role in how pain is perceived and treated in healthcare settings.
Additionally, most studies on chronic pain have only involved men.
As a result, the standard recommendations for painkiller doses are based on male bodies.
4. Abdominal swelling
Lymphoma may cause bloating if you have a buildup of fluid in your abdomen or your spleen is enlarged.
Bloating and abdominal pressure can also be caused by lymphoma of the genital tract.
Bloating can also be caused by what you eat or drink.
Cleveland clinic reports that 3 out of 4 women experience bloating before and during their periods.
It can also occur during menopause.
5. Abnormal vaginal bleeding or discharge
Lymphoma symptoms in women include abnormal vaginal bleeding and vaginal discharge.
Any signs of abnormal vaginal bleeding or changes in vaginal discharge should be reported to your doctor.
Vaginal bleeding may be considered abnormal if:
Your period is very heavy or lasts too long, You frequently bleed between periods.
You’ve gone through menopause and bleeding has started again or you are pregnant.
You bleed between periods, and you’re older than 45 years.
You experience pain during your period.
You have abnormal vaginal discharge with your period.
Your doctor can help you determine the cause of any abnormal vaginal bleeding.
6. Pelvic pain
Pelvic pain can be caused by tumors that put pressure on tissues or nerves in your pelvis.
Lymphoma symptoms in women’s reproductive tract may cause pain in this region.
Pelvic pain is often caused by constipation or infections.
How to monitor lymphoma symptoms in women?
It’s important to closely monitor how you feel during and after your lymphoma diagnosis and treatment.
You know your body best and can tell your doctor when something feels wrong.
If you feel your doctor isn’t listening to you, you have the right to get a second opinion or switch doctors.
Could you make sure to report any new or worsening symptoms to your healthcare team?
They need all the details to give you the best care possible, and they’ll be able to help identify what’s causing your symptoms.
Your care team may also help you manage any uncomfortable symptoms and improve your quality of life.
What are lymphoma treatments?
Treatments of lymphoma in women depend on the type your disease, your overall health, and your preferences.
The goal of treatment is to destroy as many cancer cells as possible and bring the disease into remission.
Active surveillance
Some forms of lymphoma in women are very slow-growing.
You and your doctor may decide to wait to treat your lymphoma when it causes signs and signs that interfere with your daily activities.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses drugs to destroy fast-growing cells, such as cancer cells.
The drugs are usually administered through a vein, but can also be taken as a pill, depending on the specific drugs you receive.
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy uses high-powered energy beams, such as X-rays and protons, to kill cancer cells.
Bone marrow transplant
A bone marrow transplant, or stem cell transplant, involves using high doses of chemotherapy and radiation to suppress your bone marrow.
Then healthy bone marrow stem cells from your body or a donor are infused into your blood.
Where they travel to your bones and rebuild your bone marrow.
Other treatments
Other drugs used to treat lymphoma in women include targeted drugs that focus on specific abnormalities in your cancer cells.
Immunotherapy drugs use your immune system to kill cancer cells.
Summary
In conclusion, lymphoma is a term for a group of blood cancers in your lymphatic system.
While both women and men may experience classic symptoms of lymphoma.
Women may have different symptoms if the lymphoma has developed in reproductive organs.
Healthcare providers can successfully treat and often cure it.
Read more about the diagnosis and treatments of lymphoma
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