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Signs & Symptoms of Hodgkin's Disease

Hodgkin's disease is a type of cancer in the lymphoma group of cancers. Lymphomas are cancers that occur in the lymphatic system. This body system is a component of the immune system. Hodgkin's disease is responsible for less than 1 percent of all cancers in America, making it a rare type of cancer, according to the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. Knowing the signs and symptoms of Hodgkin's lymphoma is essential in knowing when consult a physician.

  1. Early-Stage Symptoms

    • There are specific symptoms that patients experience in the early stages of this cancer. These are fever, chills, loss of appetite, loss of bowel control, arm and leg numbness, pain after consuming alcohol, night sweats, fatigue, weight loss, loss of bladder control, itching, loss of strength and lymph node swelling, according to the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.

    Lymph Node Symptoms

    • When the lymph nodes begin to swell, certain signs and symptoms can occur due to the lymph nodes pressing on other structures. These symptoms are pain, kidney failure, shortness of breath or coughing, leg paralysis, loss of muscle function, and swelling affecting the neck, face or legs, according to the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.

    Immune System Symptoms

    • As this cancer progresses, the immune system becomes weaker, resulting in patients being more vulnerable to unusual infections and bacterial infections, according to the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. As the immune system becomes less effective, the formation of tumors can also occur.

    Other Possible Symptoms

    • Other symptoms can also present themselves with Hodgkin's lymphoma. These are excessive sweating, an enlarged spleen, skin flushing or blushing, flank pain, neck pain, finger or toe clubbing and hair loss, according to MedlinePlus.

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