The first sign of hodgkin’s lymphoma is usually one or more enlarged (swollen) lymph nodes. Lymph nodes are part of the immune system and help fight infections. They are found throughout the body, but often occur in groups in the neck, armpits, groin and abdomen. Lymph nodes are normally painless. They may enlarge as the concentration of white blood cells increases in them, or they can be enlarged for other reasons. If a lump or bump is noticed and doesn’t go away, it is worth seeing your doctor for an assessment, especially if there are other symptoms.
Other common symptoms of hodgkin’s lymphoma include fever, drenching night sweats and weight loss. If a child has these symptoms, it is important to see your doctor.
It can be a distressing time waiting for test results. It may help to talk with a friend, family member or health professional, and to join a cancer support group. If you are worried, you can also call the Cancer Council 13 11 20.
In addition to a physical exam, your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and do some tests. The most important test to check for hodgkin’s lymphoma and to find out how far it has spread is a biopsy of an enlarged lymph node. It’s done in one of two ways:
A small section of the lymph node is removed with a needle or surgically. This is called an incision biopsy and is the preferred method of diagnosis for Hodgkin’s lymphoma because it reduces the chance that a sample of cells will be too small to analyse. It can be done as day surgery or in hospital, depending on the location of the lymph node.
The other way to take a sample of lymph node tissue for testing is by inserting a hollow needle into the lymph node. This is called an aspiration biopsy. This is not as accurate as an excision biopsy, but it is easier and less invasive.
If the biopsy shows you have hodgkin lymphoma, more tests will be done to find out how far it has spread. These are called staging tests and help plan your treatment.
Some of the staging tests include:
Other risk factors for childhood Hodgkin lymphoma are being infected with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) or HIV, having a parent or sibling who had Hodgkin lymphoma, and having a weak immune system from an infection or after a transplant. However, most children who get this disease don’t have any of these risk factors.
