Reporting Symptoms and Side Effects

 Checklist for reporting symptoms and side effects |

Alphabetical list of common symptoms

Is the new sensation I'm experiencing
related or unrelated to lymphoma or the treatment? 

The trend can be informative.
Did it come on abruptly?  Does it come and go?   Is it increasing or decreasing in severity over time?   

When should I report it to my doctor?  
What details may she need to judge if a consult or tests are needed?

Checklist for reporting symptoms and side effects:

symptoms-side-effects.jpg 

Alphabetical list of common symptoms
or laboratory abnormalities (signs) that may (or may not) be related to lymphoma:

It's important to report new unexplained symptoms - particularly when they persist or get worse over time. 

Unexplained and persistent:

Anemia
a laboratory finding of low red blood count associated with the symptom of fatigue
from treatment or lymphoma.  Anemia has many causes

Appetite loss
a symptom such as from fullness

Fatigue
a symptom such as from anemia, or from depression

Fever
a symptom such as from advanced lymphoma but common to other conditions such as infection

Flu-like feeling
symptoms of aches, fever, chills, such as from advanced and progressing lymphoma but is also common to other condition such as the flu.

Infections
associated with a laboratory finding of low white blood cells*
Can be a complication of treatment or secondary to bone marrow involvement that can inhibit blood cell production leading to a higher risk of developing infection

Metabolic
a laboratory finding of high calcium, such as caused by too much vitamin D.

Night sweats
a symptom of drenching (change of clothing) sweats at night.

Neuropathy

A symptom that is common to some kinds of treatment and uncommonly a symptom of lymphoma
See also: Paraneoplastic neuropathies. [Curr Opin Neurol. 2013] - PubMed - NCBI http://1.usa.gov/1eeCnaN

Pain
a symptom of lymphoma ... depending on the anatomic location that is secondary to pressure to bone or organs, or obstruction of bodily functions

Paraneoplastic syndrome:
An uncommon advanced symptom that may occur when there is very little detected levels of lymphoma.

Skin - Itchy skin
A symptom of lymphoma and many other medical conditions that is also called purititis.

Skin - Jaundice
an uncommon symptom of lymphoma that may indicate damage to liver from the treatment of lymphoma - yellowish tinge (related to liver function)

Swollen and painless lymph nodes
a common way that lymphoma presents as abnormal lymphocytes accumulate in these glands.
Can also be caused by a normal immune reaction to an infection

Swollen spleen
a fairly common symptom of lymphoma that can also cause a decrease in blood cell counts, leading to anemia or thrombocytopenia.

Thrombocytopenia - low platelets (bleeding)*
a laboratory finding that can be from treatment or from lymphoma, such as secondary to bone marrow involvement that can inhibit blood cell production. See Thrombocytopenia for many causes

Weight loss
a symptom of advanced lymphoma when unexplained by a change in diet. Can also be caused by a sense of fullness that reduces the appetite and intake of food.



__________________

Karl Schwartz

Caregiver, and research advocate

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