Symptoms of B-Cell Lymphoma

By: Rachel Mork

To properly identify the symptoms of B-cell lymphoma, you need to understand that this form of lymphoma can cause different symptoms in different parts of the body, depending on how the cancer manifests itself.

B-cell lymphoma is a form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. B-cell lymphoma is a type of cancer that originates in lymphatic tissue, but can metastasize and spread to other body parts. Lymphatic tissue is spread out throughout the body. Most lymphomas start in the B-cells, the white blood cells necessary for fighting infection.

There are many different symptoms of B-cell lymphoma. Check out this list of possible symptoms as they may present in different body parts:

Lymph Nodes
You may feel swollen lymph nodes, especially the lymph nodes that are close to the surface of the skin and can be easily felt.

Abdomen
You may experience some swelling of the abdomen. You may also experience nausea, vomiting or a loss of appetite. As a result, you may experience significant weight loss.

Chest
Often misdiagnosed as something else, you may start having breathing difficulties or a persistent cough.

Head
You experience chronic headaches, unexplained mood or personality changes, seizures or sudden problems making your body respond when you want to move something or react quickly.

Skin
You may find the skin surrounding the lymph tissue to be itchy and to present as red or purplish nodules or lumps that are under the skin, but somewhat visible and irritating. Some people experience extreme itching as their first noticeable symptom.

Fever
You may experience a fever that comes and goes, accompanied by sweating.

Treatment for B-Cell Lymphoma
The most common treatment for B-cell lymphoma is chemotherapy and radiation.

Who Is Vulnerable?
Men are more susceptible to B-cell lymphoma than women. Caucasians and Hispanics have the highest incident-rate of this type of lymphoma. Most cases are found in people over age 60 or in children who also have immune system complications. People with HIV/AIDS are also at a higher risk than the general public.

Related Life123 Articles

The warning signs of lymphoma are often mistaken for other medical conditions. Learn about the risk factors that may increase your susceptibility to lymphoma so you will know if you are at risk.

The many different lymphoma prognosis scenarios possible can be frightening if you or a loved one has been diagnosed with lymphoma. Lymphoma comes in many forms, each of which feature a unique set of risks and issues. It's natural to be frightened when faced with this diagnosis.

Frequently Asked Questions on Ask.com
More Related Life123 Articles

Find articles about lymphoma, including the warning signs of lymphoma, the many different kinds of lymphoma prognosis and symptoms of B-cell lymphoma.

Answers Partner Sites: Ask Answers  |  Kids Answers  |  Ask How-To  |  Reference Answers  |  Life123 Answers  |  GardenandHearth Answers
Partner Sites: Insider Pages  |  MerchantCircle  |  Urbanspoon  |  Ask Kids  |  Thesaurus
© 2012 Life123, Inc. All rights reserved. An IAC Company