Wednesday 17 November 2010

What is Lymphoma?

Did you know that Lymphoma was the most common cause of cancer in the under 30's? No? neither did i!
The Take a Pitstop website was set up to raise awareness of Lymphoma. It says

You might not have heard of lymphoma, a.k.a lymphatic cancer before. In fact, the first time that most people do is when they’re directly affected by it. And that can be pretty frightening. In a nutshell, lymphoma is a cancer that starts in the lymphatic system (part of the immune system, your body’s defence against infection).

The main symptoms of lymphoma are:

  • Persistent lumps: a painless lump or swelling commonly appearing in your neck, armpit or groin area
  • Itching: bad enough that it interferes with your daily routine
  • Tiredness: you feel completely exhausted and can barely function
  • Sweating: your sheets are drenched at night, to the point where you have to change them
  • Other symptoms include unexplained loss of weight, cough or breathlessness, abdominal pain or diarrhoea and fevers.

Fortunately, like most cancers, lymphoma is treatable if it’s caught early enough. So if you notice some or all of these symptoms, don’t wait. Contact your GP or call the Lymphoma Association’s freephone helpline on 0808 808 5555.



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