Jan
Usually you know if the lymphoma is spreading when you have more unexplained fevers, more weakness and fatigue, night sweats and unexplained weight loss. These are the symptoms the person with the lymphoma will notice - even before the pain starts making itself known.
Answer:
Chest Pain
If lymphoma involves the lymphatic tissue of the thymus, the gland located in front of the heart, it may cause chest pain. In addition, an enlarged thymus may press on nearby structures such as the trachea (windpipe) or superior vena cava (SVC), the large vein that carries blood from the head and arms back to the heart.
Trachea
Pressure on the trachea can lead to coughing, fatigue, shortness of breath, and other respiratory difficulties. Pressure on the superior vena cava may produce SVC syndrome, a swelling of the head and arms. SVC syndrome involving the brain can be fatal and must be treated immediately. But enlarged lymphatic tissue in the chest cavity generally tends to displace - rather than press upon or encase- adjacent structures. Therefore, compromised breathing and SVC syndrome are relatively uncommon signs of lymphoma.
General Symptoms
As lymphomas progress and cancerous lymphocytes spread beyond the lymphatic system, the body loses its ability to fight infections. The generalized symptoms that develop may be confused with influenza, other infections, such as infectious mononucleosis ("mono"), tuberculosis (TB), or other cancers. In particular, people with HD or NHL may experience:
fever
drenching night sweats
weight loss
fatigue
appetite loss
red patches on the skin
severely itchy skin, often affecting the legs/feet
The itching associated with Hodgkin's disease is much more severe than that caused by dry skin. In some cases, patients may actually scratch through the skin with their fingernails in attempts to get some relief. The night sweats caused by HD or NHL may be so extreme that they completely soak the individual's sheets and blankets.