At the time of diagnosis, it is not unusual for patients to have multiple lymph nodes or other sites of the body affected. Patients with mantle cell lymphoma may have experienced any of the following:
It is important to note that not all patients who have MCL will experience all or even any of these signs and symptoms. It’s also important to be aware that people that have some of these symptoms do not necessarily have mantle cell, but if you are worried after reading this, you should speak to your GP.
The Lymphoma Association have produced a really helpful document for patients with Mantle cell Lymphoma, you can download this here:
http://www.lymphomas.org.uk/sites/default/files/pdfs/mantle-cell-lymphoma.pdf
Lymphoma is a cancer that begins in a type of white blood cell, usually found in a lymph node. Lymph nodes are small oval shaped structures, found in many areas of the body.
The first sign is often a painless swelling in the neck, armpit or groin that is caused by enlarged lymph nodes. Usually, more than one group of nodes is affected.
MCL cannot be diagnosed by symptoms alone. Diagnosis involves the microscopic examination of tissue obtained by a lymph node biopsy.
Treatment of mantle cell lymphoma depends very much on both the underlying health of the patient as well as the staging of the illness.