Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma - When To Call a Doctor

SYMPTOMS & TREATMENTS

Call your doctor to schedule an appointment if you have had any symptoms for longer than 2 weeks, such as:

  • Painless swelling in the lymph nodes in the neck, underarm, or groin.
  • Unexplained fever.
  • Drenching night sweats.
  • Extreme fatigue.
  • Unexplained weight loss in the past 6 months.
  • Itchy skin.
  • Cough or shortness of breath.
  • Pain in the abdomen or back.

Watchful Waiting

Watchful waiting (surveillance) is a period after the diagnosis of some types of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) when you are not receiving treatment but are still being watched closely by your doctor. Watchful waiting is not appropriate for aggressive or high-grade lymphoma. Watchful waiting does not mean that your doctor is giving up or refusing to give you treatment. During this time you will:

  • Have regularly scheduled appointments with your doctor.
  • Receive periodic medical tests, including scans and blood tests.
  • Be told which symptoms to report to your doctor immediately.

Watchful waiting may be as effective as immediate aggressive treatment for some types of NHL. But watchful waiting ends when one of the following occurs:

  • Symptoms develop.
  • Lymphoma tumor size increases.
  • Organs do not function normally.

Who To See

Doctors who can help diagnose non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) include:

When NHL is suspected, a tissue sample (biopsy) is needed to make a diagnosis. A biopsy for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is usually taken from a lymph node. But other tissues may be sampled as well. A surgeon will remove a sample of tissue so that a pathologist can examine it under a microscope to check for cancer cells.

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is usually treated by a medical oncologist or a hematologist. If you require radiation therapy, you will also see a radiation oncologist.

To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment.

By: Healthwise StaffLast Revised: May 28, 2010
Medical Review: Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine
Douglas A. Stewart, MD - Medical Oncology

© 1995-2011 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.

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