Symptoms

Children with NHL may experience the following symptoms. Sometimes, children with NHL do not show any of these symptoms. Or, these symptoms may be caused by a medical condition that is not cancer. If you are concerned about a symptom on this list, please talk with your child’s doctor.

The symptoms of NHL may vary depending on where the cancer starts and what organ is involved.

General symptoms may include:

• Swelling or lumps in the lymph nodes located in the abdomen, groin, neck, or underarm
  
  
• Fever that is not associated with an illness
  
  
• Unexplained weight loss
  
  
• Sweating and chills
  
  
• Extreme fatigue (tiredness)

Symptoms related to tumor location may include:

• A distended belly, caused by a large tumor in the abdomen
  
  
• Painful urination and bowel movements, caused by fluid accumulation and a tumor around the kidneys and intestines
  
  
• Difficulty breathing, caused by a tumor in the thymus near the windpipe

A serious symptom of NHL is superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS). In SVCS, a tumor in the thymus area behind the breastbone squeezes the vein that carries blood from the head and arms to the heart. The head and arms swell as a result. SVCS can affect the brain and is life threatening. Children with SVCS need emergency medical attention.