Lymphoma care

At Advocate Cancer Institute, patients with lymphoma benefit from the synthesis of complex diagnostics, leading-edge treatment options, experienced hematology-oncology specialists, and a team committed to providing compassionate and effective care every step of the way.

Find an Advocate Cancer Institute near you.

Symptoms & risk factors

Lymphoma is a cancer that begins in the cells of the immune system and is classified as a blood cancer. It is one of the most common cancer types and accounts for more than 4% of all cancer diagnoses. If caught in the early stages, the successful treatment rate is close to 90%.

Symptoms: Each type of lymphoma has specific symptoms that are unique, but there are patterns that appear in nearly all types:

• Night sweats that soak through the bedsheets and pajamas even though the room temperature is not too hot
• Fever and chills that come and go
• Itching all over the body that cannot be explained
• Swollen lymph nodes in the neck, underarms, groin, or other areas
• Unplanned / unexplained weight loss
• Frequency coughing or constant shortness of breath
• Abdominal pain or swelling, leading to loss of appetite, constipation, nausea, and vomiting
• Pain in the lymph nodes after drinking alcohol

If you have noticed something suspicious, or are generally feeling unwell, visit your primary doctor or one of our caring physicians throughout Chicagoland. We’ll perform a thorough check-up and recommend any additional screenings, if needed.

Risk factors: Caucasians are more likely to develop lymphoma than African-Americans or Asian-Americans, and the overall risk is higher in men than women, although certain types are more common in women for unknown reasons.  Age is also a factor, with most lymphoma occurs in adults over 60.  Additional risk factors include:

• Viral infections
• Smoking
• Radiation exposure
• Autoimmune disease / compromised immune system
• Certain bacterial infections
• Obesity
• Exposure to weed & insect killing chemicals

Detection & diagnosis

Physicians at Advocate use a number of tests to screen patients at high risk or those suspected of having lymphoma. Learn more about diagnosing lymphoma.

Treatments & therapies

If you’re diagnosed with lymphoma, rest assured you have some of Illinois’ best experts by your side. Together, our multi-skilled team will work closely with you to create a personalized cancer treatment plan, which may include the latest surgical, medical and radiation therapies, as well as options like immunotherapy, which uses your body’s natural defense system to destroy cancer cells.