If lymph gland cancer develops, the body usually indicates that something is wrong. If you correctly interpret the symptoms early on and seek help, your chances of survival increase enormously.
When cells become malignant, cancer can develop. Theoretically, tumors can grow anywhere in the body. Women are particularly often diagnosed with breast cancer, while men are most often diagnosed with prostate cancer. Lymphatic cancer – medically known as malignant lymphomas, lymphomas or malignant tumors of the lymphatic system – occurs much less frequently. But here too, as with all types of cancer, the earlier the disease is detected and treated, the better the chances of recovery.
According to the German Cancer Research Center (dkfz),
a distinction is made between
the common forms of lymphoma: “Hodgkin lymphoma” and “non-Hodgkin lymphoma”. The latter group also includes multiple myelomas, which mainly occur in the bones, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), according to the Center for Integrated Oncology at the University Hospital of Bonn.
Cancer of the lymphatic system is rare. However, knowing the first symptoms can save lives.
Around 17,000 people develop lymphatic cancer every year
According to the
Robert Koch Institute (RKI),
Hodgkin's lymphomas account for 0.5 percent of all new cancer cases in men and women, informs the
German Cancer Society
. This makes the type of cancer one of the rather rare ones. Non-Hodgkin lymphomas are also not commonly diagnosed. According to the cancer society, around 9,160 men and 7,880 women suffer from it in Germany every year. For comparison: Doctors in Germany diagnose breast cancer in almost 70,000 women every year.
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Lymphoma cancer usually develops in old age. The median age of onset for non-Hodgkin lymphoma is 70 years for men and 72 years for women, according to the
German Cancer Society
.
Symptoms of lymphatic cancer
If lymphatic cancer is diagnosed and treated early, the chances of a speedy recovery increase. The
German Cancer Information Center
lists which symptoms should lead you to see a doctor:
Painless swelling of the lymph nodes
: If this persists for more than four weeks, this should be checked by a doctor.
Fever:
A temperature of over 38 degrees Celsius without any other identifiable cause can have serious causes.
Severe night sweats
Unintentional weight loss:
Your body weight has reduced by more than a tenth in six months? A doctor can make the correct diagnosis.
Depending on the region in which the tumor occurs, other, rather unspecific symptoms may also occur. These include indigestion, coughing, difficulty breathing and bone and joint pain. But the
German Cancer Research Center
warns against hasty conclusions. It is said that the symptoms can be very different and of varying severity in individual patients. Several or all of the symptoms mentioned would not always occur.
This article only contains general information on the respective health topic and is therefore not intended for self-diagnosis, treatment or medication. It in no way replaces a visit to the doctor. Our editorial team is not allowed to answer individual questions about medical conditions.