When it comes to lymphoma, there are more than 70 different types of the condition. Each of them has a distinct area of occurrence. However, most of these lymphomas showcase more or less similar signs and symptoms. Further, how bad the symptoms are, and how far the lymphoma has spread would determine the stage of the disease. This article mentions the early signs and stages of lymphoma. 

Symptoms
In the early stages, Lymphoma might not necessarily show symptoms. In a lot of cases, the doctors will discover the presence of expanded lymph nodes only after conducting a physical test. These extended lymph nodes might seem like soft and smooth nodules beneath the skin. The lymph nodes might be felt in the:

• Groin
• Stomach
• Armpit
• Upper chest
• Neck

However, a lot of the early symptoms of the lymphoma aren’t specific. This is why a lot of them tend to be overlooked. But it is the early signs and stages of lymphoma that determine the course of treatment. Some early warning signs include:

• Fatigue
• Bone pain
• Fever
• Cough
• Enlarged spleen
• Night sweats
• Itchy rash
• Pain when consuming alcohol
• Skin itching
• Rashes in the areas where the skin folds
• Breathlessness
• Stomach ache
• Incomprehensible weight loss

Stages
The stage of cancer predominantly depends on how far the tumor has spread. Accordingly, the cancer is assigned either of the 4 stages, i.e., Stage 1 to Stage 4. 

Stage I: In stage I, the cancer is present in the lymph nodes. In some cases, it might have invaded anyone extra lymphatic site or organ, but not the lymph nodes. It is a rare occurrence in Hodgkin’s lymphoma.  

Stage II: In Stage II, either of the following options might apply:

• The cancer is formed in either two or more than two lymph nodes located on the diaphragm’s same side.  
• There is an involvement of one organ along with the surrounding lymph nodes. In this stage, cancer may or may not spread to the lymph nodes on the diaphragm’s same side.  
• In this case, there is a formation of the mass in the chest. Usually, the mass is either over 10 cm or approximately 1/3 of the chest’s diameter.

Stage III: In stage III, the cancer has developed in the lymph nodes found on either of the diaphragm’s sides. 

Stage IV: In this case, the lymphoma has spread to distant areas in addition to their presence in lymph nodes. Usually, it spreads across the lungs, bone marrow, and liver. 

Unfortunately, in a lot of people, lymphoma is recurrent, which means that it might relapse after the treatment. The relapse is mainly seen in the initial location of the development of the lymphoma but is equally common in the other parts of the body. This recurrence might happen at any point in time but usually starts after the initial treatment or some years after the treatment.