ON THIS PAGE: You will find out more about body changes and other things that can signal a problem that may need medical care. Use the menu to see other pages.

Children and adolescents with Hodgkin lymphoma may experience the following symptoms or signs. A symptom is something that only the person experiencing it can identify and describe, such as fatigue, nausea, or pain. A sign is something that other people can identify and measure, such as a fever, rash, or an elevated pulse. Together, signs and symptoms can help describe a medical problem. Sometimes, people with Hodgkin lymphoma do not have any of the signs and symptoms described below. Or, the cause of a symptom or sign may be a medical condition that is not cancer.

• Painless swelling of lymph nodes in the neck, underarm, or groin that does not go away in a few weeks

• Coughing or problems with breathing, which may mean that the lymph nodes in the chest are swollen and pressing on the windpipe

• Unexplained fever, without other signs of infection, that does not go away

• Unexplained weight loss

• Night sweats, usually drenching

• Itching

• Fatigue

If you are concerned about any changes your child experiences, please talk with your child’s doctor. Your child’s doctor will ask how long and how often they have been experiencing the symptom(s), in addition to other questions. This is to help figure out the cause of the problem, called a diagnosis.

If Hodgkin lymphoma is diagnosed, relieving symptoms remains an important part of cancer care and treatment. This may be called "palliative care" or "supportive care." It is often started soon after diagnosis and continued throughout treatment. Be sure to talk with your child’s health care team about the symptoms your child experiences, including any new symptoms or a change in symptoms.

The next section in this guide is Diagnosis. It explains what tests may be needed to learn more about the cause of the symptoms. Use the menu to choose a different section to read in this guide.