The 10 Most Common Cancers: Know The Signs and Symptoms

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is a leading cause of cancer in North America: four percent of all diagnosed cancer cases are due to NHL. A major distinction of NHL is that it’s one of the more common forms of cancer to affect children. Lymphoma is cancer which develops in the lymphatic system. white blood cells called lymphocytes which are vital to our immune system mutate and can quickly spread through the entire body. The most common places lymphoma occurs is in the bone marrow, spleen and thymus gland; all of which are responsible for creating lymphocytes. Additionally, NHL can show up in parts of the body where excess lymphocytes are held in reserves such as lymph nodes, digestive tracts or tonsils and adenoids.

Symptoms for Non-Hodgkin lymphoma can be misleading: fatigue, fever, night sweats and unexplained weight loss are all warning signs easily dismissed. Depending on where the cancer is forming, chest or abdominal pain, as well as shortness of breath or cramping, are warning signs. Probably the easiest symptom to catch would be swollen, painless lymph nodes located around the groin, armpits and neck.