Lymphoma worry. Itchy skin

Hi Amy

Itching was my first symptom before I was diagnosed with Hodgkins, it drove me to scratching myself until I bled. I would say that it's worth pursuing getting tested although my experience was constant and didn't come and go, it didn't stop until I started treatment.

I felt I wasn't taken seriously by doctors until I had a second, unequivocal symptom. I went 9 months between the first time I approached my GP about the itching and getting a diagnosis.

It could be anything but please be tenacious about being tested to rule out lymphoma.

Hayley

Thanks so much for your reply.  What tests would I need? I hope you are doing well.  I'm sorry you've had to deal with all of this.

Xx

Hi AmyG and a second welcome to this corner of the community and to hear about the challenges you are having.

Itching is indeed one of a number of Lymphoma Symptoms but as HayleyAY says it does tend to be continues and only starts to reduce once treatment starts……. but it is also accepted that itching is also a side effect of stress.

You need to continue to work with the medical profession to find out what is going on and look at the methods to Diagnosis of Lymphoma

You may find it helpful to call the Macmillan Support Line open 8am-8pm (timings may differ across services) 7 days a week on 0808 808 00 00. This service provides practical information, emotional support or just a listening ear.

My experience is some 13 years back so things may well have changed but regular blood tests showed inflammation. Allergy tests showed I didn't have allergies so something else was causing the itching. X-rays and ultrasounds picked up nothing but I eventually had a PET scan and a biopsy.

Good luck!

Reading this felt like I wrote it. I went to the doctor for 7 months complaining about itchy skin. They wrote in my chart that it was mental and all in my head. This made me so angry because it got so bad that I was taking several oatmeal baths a day and world take razor blades to my skin and scratch until I bled. Eventually, night sweats rapid weight loss and finally going to a cardiologist due to weakness and fatigue they immediately put me in the ICU with fluid around my heart that required immediate surgery to drain because it was restricting by blood flow and my blood pressure was 60/40 and 30 bpm. After draining the fluid, it immediately returned so they had to install a drain. They took chest x- rays and noticed dark spots in my lungs They suspected sarcoidosis or some other infection but told me they were 99% sure it wasn't cancer. After being in the ICU for 13 days, they took our and did a biopsy of a lymphnode in my neck and it tested positive for Hodgkin's Lymphoma. With all that said, ut took 7 months,  countless visits, including to a dermatologist for the excessive itching and a cardiologist for fatigue to diagnose me with Stage 4 Classic HL. The PET scan revealed just how advanced it was and had someone done further testing early on, it wouldn't have been this advanced. Thankfully, AVBD chemo was successful and I've been cancer free for 7 years.  University of Washington used my case as a case study for medical students and they have used my symptoms as a learning experience. My initial symptoms were itchy skin,  night sweats and rapid weight loss. It wasn't until extreme fatigue, weakness, and dizziness were introduced that someone took notice. My advice is to be your own advocate. You know your body and when something isn't right. Be the squeaky wheel and make someone take notice!