When to worry about swollen lymph nodes with non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Lymph nodes are small immune-system structures that can enlarge when lymphoma cells collect there. A node may be felt in the neck, above the collarbone, armpit, or groin. During treatment, a change in size or firmness can reflect the condition, infection, inflammation, or a response to treatment; examination and imaging help distinguish these possibilities. Record where you feel the node, when you first noticed it, and whether it is changing.

Contact your oncology team about a new or changing node, especially if it continues to enlarge, feels firm or fixed, or appears in a new area. Do not repeatedly press or massage it, because this can make the area sore and make changes harder to judge. Keep taking prescribed treatment unless your clinician tells you otherwise, and bring a list of medicines and recent symptoms to the appointment.

Seek urgent medical help for trouble breathing or swallowing, sudden swelling of the face or neck, severe chest pain, fainting, confusion, or a high fever with marked weakness. These symptoms can signal pressure on nearby structures or a serious infection and should not wait for a routine visit. If symptoms are milder but persist or worsen, call your oncology service promptly.

Ask which lymph-node changes matter for your treatment plan, whether you need an examination or scan, how to check the area without irritating it, and which fever or breathing symptoms require immediate help. Ask when your next review should occur and whom to contact outside clinic hours.