Understanding Hodgkin's Lymphoma: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and When to See a Doctor
Doctor explains the symptoms and diagnosis of Hodgkin's lymphoma, a type of blood cancer that can worsen with alcohol consumption. Learn about the signs to watch for and when to consult your doctor.
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Topic Breakdown
If you want to learn more about the type of blood cancer whose symptoms can be worse after drinking alcohol, called Hodgkin's lymphoma, then you've come to the right place. My name is Dr. Ad Donovan, and in this blog post, we're going to cover what Hodgkin's lymphoma is, potential symptoms, and finally, when you should go and see your doctor.
First of all, what is Hodgkin's lymphoma? Well, it's a type of blood cancer that affects the white blood cells, which are called lymphocytes. It's also called a cancer of the lymphatic system, which is a network of vessels and glands spread throughout your body. This system is part of the immune system, which helps to fight off infections in your body. Clear fluid called lymph flows through the lymphatic vessels and contains the infection-fighting white blood cells known as lymphocytes. In Hodgkin's lymphoma, a particular type of lymphocyte starts to multiply abnormally, collecting in certain parts of the lymphatic system, such as the lymph nodes, which you might notice as raised glands. The affected lymphocytes lose their infection-fighting properties, making you potentially more vulnerable to infections.
Now that you know what Hodgkin's lymphoma is, let's cover some potential signs and symptoms. The most common symptom of Hodgkin's lymphoma is a painless swelling in the lymph nodes. This can occur in areas of the body such as the neck, armpits, or groin. It's really important to know that lymph nodes commonly swell if we have an infection, which is why you might notice swollen lymph nodes in places such as your neck when you have a cold. These usually go back to normal over a couple of days. With lymphoma, the lymph nodes often grow slowly and may be there for months or years before they're noticed, but sometimes they can grow very quickly. While I did mention that the swollen nodes don't hurt, some people do say that their lumps ache or are painful, and for some people with Hodgkin's lymphoma, they're painful after drinking alcohol.
In addition to these symptoms, you may notice other general symptoms such as heavy sweating, especially at night, high temperatures that come and go with no obvious cause, often overnight, losing a lot of weight despite not trying to, very itchy skin which may be worse after drinking alcohol, cough or shortness of breath, and tummy pain or vomiting after drinking alcohol. Some people have Hodgkin's lymphoma in their bone marrow when they're diagnosed. If you have this, it can cause the following symptoms: shortness of breath and tiredness due to anemia from low red blood cell counts, an increased risk of infections due to a low white cell count, and bleeding problems such as nosebleeds, very heavy periods, or a rash of tiny blood spots under the skin due to a low platelet count.
Other symptoms will depend on where in your body the Hodgkin's lymphoma is. It's also important to note that swollen lymph nodes can press on the nerves and cause pain, cause swelling in arms or legs by blocking the flow of lymphatic fluid around the body, and cause yellowing of the skin and eyes (known as jaundice) by blocking the flow of bile from the liver. While these latter symptoms are not common, they can happen, which is why I'm mentioning them.
So, when should you see your doctor? Please remember that many of these symptoms I've discussed are very common and can be caused by different conditions that are not cancer. Having them does not definitely mean you have Hodgkin's lymphoma. If you've recently developed an infection, for example, swollen lymph nodes are common and should go down over a few days to weeks. However, it's important that if you do have any of the symptoms we've discussed, you get them checked out by your doctor. That's because if they are caused by cancer, finding it early may mean it's easier to treat. When you go to see your doctor, they're likely to ask you some specific questions about the symptoms you're experiencing, carry out a physical exam where they might try to feel the lymph nodes in your neck or under your armpits, and potentially do some blood tests. The only definitive way to confirm a diagnosis of Hodgkin's lymphoma is by carrying out a biopsy. This is a minor surgical procedure where a sample of affected lymph node tissue is removed and studied in a lab, and this would be done in the hospital.
It's also important to mention that Hodgkin's lymphoma is not a common cancer. In the UK, around 2,000 people are diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma each year, compared to around 50,000 cases of something like lung cancer, just to put things into perspective.
I've included lots more information on Hodgkin's lymphoma in the description box from trusted sources, so please do look at these if you want to learn more. Additionally, if you're looking to scale your medical brand on YouTube or are interested in sponsoring these educational videos with your products, please feel free to book a consultation. Sharing knowledge is crucial, and your support makes it possible to reach and help more people.
Please do leave a comment below if you'd like to share your own experiences or if you found this information helpful. Until next time, take care.
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