Does lymphoma cause pain?
Yes, lymphoma can cause pain for several reasons. Understanding where the pain comes from can help you manage it better.
Pain from lymphoma itself:
Lymphoma causes cancerous lymphocytes to build up in lymph nodes and organs. While swollen lymph nodes usually aren't painful, they can press on Show Full Answer
Does lymphoma cause pain?
Yes, lymphoma can cause pain for several reasons. Understanding where the pain comes from can help you manage it better.
Pain from lymphoma itself:
Lymphoma causes cancerous lymphocytes to build up in lymph nodes and organs. While swollen lymph nodes usually aren't painful, they can press on nearby nerves, blood vessels, and tissues, causing discomfort.
Common areas where lymphoma causes pain include:
- Chest: Swollen lymph nodes can press on the windpipe, causing chest pain, pressure, coughing, and difficulty breathing
- Abdomen: Enlarged spleen, liver, or lymph nodes can cause abdominal pain, bloating, and a feeling of fullness after eating small amounts
- Bones: If lymphoma spreads to bones (usually the spine, pelvis, or ribs), it can cause bone pain that may worsen at night or improve with exercise
- Joints: Cancer cells can affect joints, causing aching and reduced mobility
Some people with Hodgkin lymphoma experience pain in their lymph nodes after drinking alcohol.
Pain from treatment:
Chemotherapy and radiation can cause various types of pain, including headaches, muscle pain, nerve pain, and joint aches. The medication pegfilgrastim (Neulasta/Udenyca), used to boost white blood cells during chemo, commonly causes bone and joint pain.
A MyLymphomaTeam member shared: "Lots of pain in the joints after the treatment."
The good news is that up to 95% of cancer-related pain can be treated. Talk with your healthcare team about pain management options.
March 9
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