Hi, sorry to hear all you have been going through. I had stage 3b NHL, finished my chemo in November. Strangely enough I had also been to my doctors about losing weight, fatigue and a terrible itch on my scalp. It was awful scratching all the time, I had my husband checking my scalp but he cudnt see anything. Doctor said my scalp was dry, probably because I was scratching it all the time. She prescribed a coconut oil shampoo which didn’t help, also my bloods were normal. A lump appeared on my neck weeks later and she sent me to an Ent consultant. Many tests later I have a rare form of lymphoma. It’s very strange about the itching as I mentioned this to my consultant and she said it was unusual, the minute I started chemo, the itch went away. Maybe the scalp itch was unusual but I will be watching out for this in the future. I wish you well with your treatment. X

Hi, I know this post is months old and not sure you'll see the reply, just curious about the scalp itch you experienced. I've had a very intense itch on my scalp since the beginning of August, worse at night as has had me awake, so bad it's bled where I've been scratching it. A pharmacist suggested an anti fungal cream, but that did nothing and said try my GP if it persisted. I didn't until a couple of weeks ago as it was driving me insane and felt like it was never going to stop! It feels like it's burning sensation sometimes. I also noticed a hard lump on my neck, so mentioned that at the GP appointment thinking he'd say it was nothing to worry about but he wants to refer to ultrasound if lump is still there at a follow up appointment on 30th.. he prescribed a steroid shampoo for a scalp but it's not helped.. so now my mind is in overdrive and concern about lymphoma! How bad was your itchy scalp and did you ever scratch it so much it bled etc? Hopefully I'll get some answers for my situation at some point in the not too distant future but for now just researching all I can!

I hope you are both well,

Thanks for reading x

Hi, just my head but more so above my neck xx

Okay thank you xx

Hi,

Glad I found this thread.

I've had itchy shins and calves for a few weeks (most noticeably at night) and my scalp has started itching too now. A node on the left side of my groin / base of abdomen is sore to the touch (started on Boxing Day) and the GP has asked me to wait a week to see if the node settles. Having read your posts, I'm inclined to ask for full bloods to be done once I speak to the GP again next week. 
18 months ago, I had 'problem nodes' in my neck and night sweats (in lieu of this itching), but a nasoendoscopy and ultrasound discounted Lymphoma back then......it eventually resolved and was suspected to have been a viral infection. Fingers crossed I get the same outcome this time. I am a 50 year old father of twin daughters (they turn 6 in two weeks), so I could do with sticking around for a while longer!

Oh yes I wouldn't definitely ask for your bloods to be done! And also ask for a referral to haemotology, that really got the ball rolling for me!! I'm sure all is fine but much better to be safe and find out! 

Hi sorry you are having these problems, if you are not happy, I would insist on another ultrasound and if they are concerned they will do a biopsy, this is the only way to tell if it's lymphoma. My bloods didn't show anything. Also my haematologist told me the nodes should not be sore as I mentioned that after my chemo. She said that's a good sign. My nodes weren't sore the first time round. Check all round your neck and under your arms, I didn't even notice I had lumps there. On my follow up appointments my haematologist checked these areas and my groin for lumps. I was sent for an X-ray which showed the lymph nodes were back in my chest again. They won't do any treatment just now but I'm on watch and wait and hopefully will continue for a while. Just be vigilant. 

Hi. Thanks for the advice - much appreciated. Worrying to learn that you can be Stage 3b with normal blood results!

It may prove a challenge to get my GP to refer me for ultrasound if my bloods come back normal. I can but try.

Hi,

glad I found this thread. I'm 27 and have always, well in the past 4 years had swollen lymph nodes. I've had ultra sounds on both areas and non of them were cancerous, in the neck and in the groin that is. I also had a biopsy in the groin and this came back fine. I did however have blood tests at the start of the year and my ESR was above average electro sedimation rate or soe Something, they put it down to me being ill a couple of months prior.

over the past 2 weeks though, I've been itching like mad, the only thing that relives it is antihistamines. I'm not allergic to anything or skin sensitive. Every thread I'm reading tells me the only outcome is going to Be lymphoma and I'm majorly stressing out. Are there any other tell tale symptoms? Oh and to be fair I've had tonsiltius twice in the past month, but don't know if that's due to me drinking and barely sleeping night prior to getting tonsillitis. 
I had bloods done last week but the nurse forgot to write down to test my esr, surely something would flag in my full blood count if something was wrong? 

Hi. Symptoms such as hard immovable lymph nodes, fatigue, night sweats and headaches are supposedly also Lymphoma signs. There are others on here better placed to advise you though. Note that liver disorders or low vitamin B12 are also causes of itchiness (with no rash or skin issues) too.......I'm hoping for the B12 diagnosis!

Although not a guarantee, lymph nodes that are sore, rubbery and less than 1.5cm across are inlikely to be an indication of Lymphoma.

Sorry I meant to say would! Not wouldn't 

Hi, sorry to hear you're feeling like this, completely normal to worry! I know when I had my bloods taken the thing that worried them was the high white blood cell count and high inflammation levels. I think that they really should take you seriously, you have itching and swollen lymph nodes which are symptoms of lymphoma. However, it could be something completely different so please try not to worry! My doctor gave me a list of things that could have caused the itching and I was prescribed all sorts! You should definitely see your doctor again though to be on the safe side, and even mention lymphoma! As it didn't cross any of their minds until my Mum Mentioned it!

Hope you're ok!

Hi, sorry to hear you're feeling like this, completely normal to worry! I know when I had my bloods taken the thing that worried them was the high white blood cell count and high inflammation levels. I think that they really should take you seriously, you have itching and swollen lymph nodes which are symptoms of lymphoma. However, it could be something completely different so please try not to worry! My doctor gave me a list of things that could have caused the itching and I was prescribed all sorts! You should definitely see your doctor again though to be on the safe side, and even mention lymphoma! As it didn't cross any of their minds until my Mum Mentioned it!

Hope you're ok!

Did you get your results I found a lump on neck only small around 10 weeks ago around same time I experienced really itchy skin iv been to my gp 3 times last time they did blood tests and had markers come up for inflammation and said to have bloods done again in 4 weeks and a scan I'm 33 weeks pregnant so there not really taking me seriously but my symptoms am giving me anxiety about Hodkins lymphoma I'm trying to take doctors advise and wait for bloods to be re done and wait till after iv had baby for a scan but I'm so worried having young children scares me thinking there is something seriously wrong with me the doctors put the lump to infection but iv not been ill and they advised it can take 3 weeks for the lump to go but iv had it 10 weeks for what I know of and I believe the itchy skin and inflammation is all linked to this lump in my neck I'm hoping to phone again tomorrow and see if theres further tests they can do as longer iv left it worse I feel with neck pain and now in the back of my neck spreading towards my shoulder blades and reading some of these comments with same symptoms is making me believe maybe I have cancer it's just the doctors ain't really taking me serious due to my age and being pregnant 

Following this post as I'm also scared I have cancer if you don't mind me asking what was Your white cells like when they done bloods ? How high were they I am honestly so terrified as I have a young baby at home 

Hi, sorry I don't know what my white cells were, they went straight to the biopsy when my consultant felt the lump. I was getting bloods done the first time round every month and no one picked up that the white blood cells were high so I don't think the blood test showed anything wrong. I've been under a rheumatologist for years getting loads of bloods tested and nothing ever seems to show in my bloods apart from a kidney prob, strangely enough my doctor checking me again for same problem, more bloods getting done tomorrow. The miracle was after one round of chemo my levels went back to normal as my haematologist was looking out for that. never had any problems with my bloods during chemo either. Do you have any other symptoms of lymphoma?

I posted on here last night about my situation I will attach what I posted let me know if there's any resemblemces 

Hey my names Emily I'm 23 I had a baby 7 months ago ( baby number 2) pregnancy number 4. I have always had very big boobs and my bmi is high, recently I noticed my boobs were a lot lower and my nipple was lower to. I keep getting this itchy feeling on the top of boobs which has been driving mad intense itching I'm so terrified I have cancer I have no pain or lumps just breast tissue is non existent like no fullness whatsoever very loose skin

what is a typical white blood cell reading in early stages of cancer ? And do they typically keep getting higher? Also my inflammatory test came back slightly elevated but nothing to crazy 

Sorry I can't answer you as my bloods never showed anything wrong. If you are worried, you should see your doctor. Cancer has a lot of other symptoms, my doctor didn't take my itching seriously so maybe it's not a big symptom. Lumps seem to be the main symptom. Take care 

Hi scones I hope you're well :)

im in the same boat myself. Have an abnormal lymph node on ultrasound and itching etc and having fine needle biopsy done. Does a fine needle biopsy detect lymphoma? Did you have this? Thank you 

Hi, yes the biopsy tells them what kind of lymphoma you have, after that a ct scan will be done if it's positive and tells them what stage it's at. The biopsy also tells them if it slow growing or aggressive. I hope this helps. I also had a bone marrow biopsy as well. 

Thank you so much for getting back to me :) 

My consultant told me the fine needle biopsy can find cancer spread to lymph nodes but isn't great for detecting lymphoma and he may need to surgically remove the lymph node.. I'm assuming you didn't have any lymph nodes removed? Just confused whether to go ahead with removing my lymph node if I don't get any result from the fna or would I be best getting a CT scan done first? Thanks so much 

Hi, I'm not a doctor but just relaying my experience to you. It was the ENT doctor that called me to say the biopsy showed I had nodal marginal zone lymphoma and I didn't need surgery. Maybe if the biopsy didn't show anything and they were still worried it being sinister they might remove it, I'm not sure. I know they did another biopsy on another lump which was under my arm, this was to check if it was aggressive or not. Mine was indolent. I then had a bone marrow biopsy. This was all before my ct scan which showed what stage I was at. All these tests took the best part of 3 months before they decided I needed chemo. It was agony waiting all this time but I guess they have to make sure what they are dealing with and to make sure the right treatment is given.

Hi I am 17 ans was recently diagnosed with iron deficiency anaemia , low b12 , low folate and low vitamin d and I'm terrified it's a sign of cancer going unnoticed. I have been on supplements for almost 4 months for all things listed but 2 weeks ago I went through about 7 days of feeling nauseas and not wanting to really eat but my appetite is back to normal now and have also developed a dark patch on my stomach kind of in a cluster but the doctor wouldn't look at it when I went in because I thought I had swollen nodes . She tested me for glandular fever and something else which I am still yet to know I am just so worried it's cancer and they aren't taking me seriously