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sorry, I guess this is too late. But I had a rash. Started out from my knees down. You can not believe how it itched. I would scratch it until it bled. Drove my family crazy. Really apeared as dry skin in the very begining.
Lisa
Hi Lisa,
Thanks for replying! so did it spread to your whole body? and did they give you anything to stop it itching? I did go to the doctors last monday and he thought it was a viral rash of some sort and that it should just get better. However he said he had never seen a Lymphoma rash before and my mum and i were still worrying about it once we had left, so we paid a visit to the hospital where i was treated and have check ups. There i got checked over by about 5 different doctors who all thought it was a viral rash too but were slightly worried that i had lost weight aswell. so i have been booked for a check up appointment in afew weeks time if it is not better. The rash is still driving me nutty though and like you've said i have been scratching till i am bleeding! Not much fun really.lol Anyway by the sounds of things it is unlikely to be lymphoma related thank god! I can't help but get frightened by things like this though... i guess it will get better as the years go by (fingers crossed) xxx
Yes, it did spread. Kinda slowley. Up my legs to above the waist and on my arms. I am, was not one to jump the gun about anything by going to the doctor for nothing. My droctor thought it was a skin condition, maybe exama?? He said he really had no idea. Then by that time I also had the lymphs that needed biopsing. Within getting the first 2 ABVD treatments, rash was gone. I am not sure my oncolgist had ever saw the rash in anyone else. I believe I had all the symptoms. Yeah me! Hope that helps.
I experienced itchy skin for a while before my original diagnosis. I itched so bad, i would scratch until i bled. It was horrible. It was mainly on my lower legs.
Maybe not so coincidentally, the itchiness went away during and after treatment.
This spring I began itching again... mainly my arms. I blamed it on stress/excema. I was also diagnosed with hodgkin's again this summer.
I still dont know if the itching IS due to lymphoma or if it's just my excema or dry skin or what. I will never know.
hope you are doing better. let us know how your check up goes with the oncolygist
Sorry, but my only symptom was itching before my left gland in my neck swelled up so much it was sticking out of my neck. I was scatching my skin to the point of making myself bleed. My itching was all over head to toe but my legs were really bad and my arms. I later found out it was the tumors giving off histamines which made me itch. The itching stopped after the second cyle of chemo. Sorry, I know it's no the answer you were looking for. Did you see a dr. who thought it might be the Hodgkins? How are you doing now?
Thanks everyone for all this information! ..sounds like there has been lots of itchy hodgkins patients! I didn't have itching as a symptom before i was diagnosed.. just weight loss, night sweats and a lump in my neck.. I wonder if you are more likely to have the same symptoms if you relapse..? Anyhoo I have booked another doctors appointment with a different doctor for tomorrow because I can't stand this itching anymore and need some cream or something! It's stopping me from sleeping it's that bad.. so i'm a pretty grumpy girl at the minute lol. I now also have small blood spots under my skin, i think from all the scratching! However I do not have any lumps or swollen lymph nodes at the moment thank god. I am not totally convinced of the doctors diagnosis of a viral rash to be honest, I just think it would have gone by now and I haven't really felt ill with it at all. I am starting to wonder whether it may be scabies... GROSS! But really I would choose scabies over Hodgkin's any day!!! Infact I should be bloody happy to have scabies... Bring on the scabies I say! lol
Best wishes to you all xxx
Good luck.
It is funny, but I had what I thought was excema for the first time the year before i was diagnosed (when i was having all the other symptoms) i just made the connection. i even have scars where i scratched.
Glad to hear that you are seeing another doctor. I hope it gets better. I've been there with the itching and it sucks. Hang in there. You will be in my thoughts and prayers.
I had the rash for a year before being diagnosed. I was given all sorts of creams- nothing worked- finally the dr. gave me anti anxiety drugs because it must be all in my head!!! When my lymphnodes on my clavical swelled up, they changed their minds, but I think most doctors don't put the rash with "cancer". It started on my arms and legs, and is teeny tiny blisters that itch so badly I scratch them bloody. The itch is just so intense like it is inside. The rash went away with Chemo (abvd) . Last week a CT showed me "cancer Free"- but the rash has come back. It scares me to death that it really isn't gone. I'm like you- I would trade cancer for scabies any day!! Good luck and I hope yours has NOT come back.
Omg Janet! you had it for a year before you were diagnosed! You must have been so fed up and i imagine red raw from scratching! ouch. But yeah i guess doctors don't really connect the itchy rash straight to lymphoma as I think it is pretty rare to have a rash with the itching as a symptom. Plus a rash could be sooo many different things that it is pretty hard for doctors to diagnose (as I have found out with mine! lol). I hope this rash you have now isn't lymphoma related also.. it sounds as though it wont be though if you have just had a scan that came back cancer free 
! I went to another doctor last week, told her the whole story and that i now think it could be scabies.. she basically said that she wasn't sure what it was but that it wouldn't hurt to do the scabies treatment and see if it goes away. Only bad thing about this is that all my housemates and my boyfriend had to do the treatment too even though they have no symptoms.. yeah that wasn't great having to tell everyone i could have given them the lurgy! lol. But nevermind, I have done the treatment cream now and have to do another 1 in 7days. Then apparently it can take afew weeks to get better, so I may have to wait a while till i know if it is definatly scabies. Can't wait to be itch free.. i have forgotten what that feels like! lol. Anyway I will stop boring you all with my minging rash.. Just wanted to say thanks so much everyone for all your kind words and support not to mention all your itchy rash related info and experiences! :-)
Millie xxx
hello! i'm new to this but about two days ago painful itching started, my brother has ecxema, but his skin is usually red and patchy and very dry! You can't see ANYTHING on my skin, it itches so bad i will scream in agony and it feels like its on the inside... its really bad on my legs on my neck arms and stomach. i googled my syptoms and this post popped up, i dont wanna think this at my age (15) but im kinda freaking out... i really need some help too, should i go to the doctor? i mean ive been sick for a few weeks, loss of my voice, coughing, tired all the time!!! what do you guys think?
Heya,
Yeah I would definatly go to the doctor if the itching is that bad! It is REALLY unlikely that it will be lymphoma related but whatever it is, if it is causing you that much grief then you should go to the doctor. At least then they can find out what it is and give you something to stop the itching! You could even tell them that you are worried it could be Hodgkins and i am sure they will whatever they can to put your mind at rest. You said that you have been ill recently so it may be something viral i guess. Usually with Hodgkins you would have more symptoms than just the itching... check that you don't have any lumps in your neck, around your collar bone area, under your armpits or in your groin area. Also have you had any night sweats? and by that i mean literally waking up drenched! Seriously try not to worry about it.. i'm sure all will be fine. Talking from experience, sometimes googling your symptoms can be more of a hinderance than a help really and just plain scare yourself shitless! Your symptoms could be a number of less serious things. Anyway I hope you feel better soon and stop itching!
Best wishes
Hi there,
I'm going through the itch right now - with me there is no visible rash, just red marks after I have scratched - hopefully it's coincidental for you.
I have this itch on my neck getting more intense all the time, especially the last week. Same as for others, doctors pass it off as something it isn't. Finally the other day I felt a lump in my armpit. I have an appointment on Monday, hope to convince the doctor to refer me or run some tests. I've had this itching since July!
I have had chronic itching for 1 year. Very intense!!! 
My feet mostly, and toes. I have scars on my feet, legs and stomach. It started with my feet and worked its way up. The itching is so intense that I scratch until I bleed. This chronic itching has affected my quality of life. Sometimes the only relief would be to soak my feet in ice cold water. For the last year I have had numerous tests and Dermatology and allergy appointments. I've had lotions, antihistamines and you name it and I've probably have tried it. The doctors have pretty much given up on me.
On 10/31/09 I wasn't feeling well and also found an enlarged lymph node on the right side of my neck. My breathing was difficult at times and I had a dry cough. I went to urgent care and the doctor ordered a chest x-ray which revealed enlarged lymph nodes in my chest. My ct confirmed enlarged lymph nodes in my neck and chest. My lymph node in my neck was removed and biopsed. I was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma NS. I've had 2ct scans, muga, pet scan, ultrasound, pulmonary function test, bone marrow biopsy and a port placed in my chest. I will be starting (ABVD) this Wednesday.
I can't believe that none of the doctors that were trying to diagnos my itching never really considered lymphoma. It all makes sense now. I'm hoping that the itching will subside after 1 or 2 treatments of chemo. For the last year the chronic itching has made me feel like I was crazy. If the chemo doesn't help my itching, I will be devastated.
I was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma NS also. I started itching in Sept.08. It kept progressively getting worse......itching everywhere from head to toes along with the pins and needles stabbing within my body and the feeling of bug bites all over. I would itch until I bruised all over. I would itch my fingers until I pulled the skin off. My feet and toes would itch till I thought I would go insane. The only thing that I found to help some was to take clove oil and mix it into a lotion and rub it all over my body. It would burn, but I would rather feel the burn than the itch. I had sleepless nights along with the night sweats and weight loss. I went to my family doctor and she said I was allergic to soaps, etc. I knew that wasn't the case. I went to a dermatologist that was suppose to be so great and she tried several different anti-depressants on me (thought it was my brain receptors). When that didn't help....she ordered blood work and a chest x-ray which came back normal. I had done some research on the computer and thought maybe I had lymphoma and told my dermatologist and she blew it off saying that all my tests showed no disease so she suggested seeing a neurologist. I was to the point then that I couldn't live the way I was living......I couldn't enjoy life anymore......and wanted to be put out of my misery. I googled and researched and decided I needed a CT scan. Finally, I got my family doctor to listen to me and scheduled a CT scan and you know the rest.....I had enlarged lymph nodes in my chest and neck. I started chemo in July 09 and I have two treatments left. It has not been easy......I have had many ups and downs.....but I just want you to know that after the first treatment my itching completely stopped. It was such a big relief. I would go thru all the treatments again as bad as they get to be rid of that itching. You hang in there.....it will only get better. My thoughts and prayers go out to you.
Thank you for your post. I have had itching since mid-summer. Was not able to get a referral for a CT scan before last week. It showed an abnormal lymph node in my armpit with granules. It was the swelling of that node that brought on the CT scan. Up until then I was given lotions and an X-ray. The itching has always been confined to the lower part of the neck on the same side as the armpit, feeling as if it were inside, with nothing showing on the skin. Reading the literature shows me with a number of lymphona risk factors. Age of 60, had been overweight when the itching began, two of my father's sisters who came down with blood-related cancers in their 70s and died of them. It seems to me that medical professsionals are not alert for signs of lymphona as they are for colon cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, etc.: and don't want to hear it suggested to them by a patient. They basically want you in and out, hello, good-by, next patient, please. Even
now, with a consultation to have a biopsy performed scheduled in two weeks, no one is saying "lymphona." I have to prepare myself for the likelihood, because no one else will.
.. i was diagnosed with hodgkins lymphoma about 6 months ago...after itching for about 9months prior. i went 2 dermotologist, allergist, emergency rooms u name it!! i had a lump under my arm which i was told was probably due 2 to my body reacting from infection. Finally i got a ctscan which confirmed the lymph nodes followed by a biopsy. I did ABVD for 6 months. The itching did not go right away with the trmnts, it took about 2 months. i have scars up and down my legs, back breast and feet. now that im done my ABVD, my itching is back in full force. i take xannax, allegra, and benedryl which doesnt really work. i feel like im at mt whits end, the itching is sooooooooooo bad i cant even think of anything else. my ct scan was clear, but my pet scan looked the same as it did 1/2 way thru trtmnts. my doc wants to wait it out, and scheduled another ct in Feb. not sure i can make it that far...i totally understand your agony. i hope they find something that will stop this itch. im at the point i will do anything, i want my life back. i dont even remember an itch free day..by the way i had stage 2b...i hate to be a petimist but im convinced the c ancer cant be gone. please update us, and i will do the same...
I had the rash off and on since 2005 and wasn't diagnosed until last summer. The itching started on my knee and went towards my lower legs, back, and buttocks. Nothing seemed to stop the itch. I went through 6 months of chemo and now in remission, but recently my rash has returned. I told my Oncologist about it and he has ordered a CT scan to make sure.
Hope your itch is better. I just stumbled across this old post and found it amusing that so many of us had "itching." Mine started about a year before my diagnosis. It seemed mostly when I got hot, like when I worked out or ate hot food, both of which I do quite often! I've been in remission for five years and the itching is less than it was before treatment, but I still have it occasionally. Mostly when I work out. I am otherwise healthy so my Dr. just prescribed Allegra and I use it as needed. It takes about a half an hour to work, but does the trick. When it is really bad, I use a prescription analgesic cream on my skin called Voltaren. I was prescribed for me for knee pain but it works wonders on itchiness, especially mosquito bites!
Thanks for your post and for asking. I see it's been all but a year since I posted, and so I'll go ahead with the rest of the story, which is in fact still up in the air. Dr. James Schall removed the swollen lymph node and it was biopsied, but the surprising result was that no abnormal cells were seen. Why it became swollen (at age 60, I had never experiened a swollen node), no one will venture a guess about. The itching is unchanged over what is by now a year and a half. It is confined to one small section of the lower right neck. By unchanged, I mean it has never spread and never become any more or less "itchy" from when it first showed up. After the January surgery, Dr. Schall (he's a surgeon, understand) told me that in all likelihood, whatever caused the itching and the swelling would, in time, "show itself." But nearly a year later, nothing has shown itself and, no more swollen glands have surfaced. In other words, there's no reason for even posting the story here, except that like some others, when I googled unexplained itching, it often matched up with lymphona. But mine could be, I guess, anything which is progessing very, very slowly. My itch was never accompanied by any rash, by the way, and it is 100% underneath the epidermis. The surface of the skin does not itch at all. I read online that some cancer cells release histamine, which is responsible for an itch. But itches have many potential causes (one site I was on listed 51 separate possibilities). Anyhow, that's my update.
Hi Steve,
It's good to hear that you haven't been diagnosed with cancer and the itch hasn't gotten any worse, but it sucks that they can't figure it out. I love the "wait and see" approach, it just about drives you crazy doesn't it? Anyways, I hope that it either gets better or at least not worse. I hope you and your family have a happy holidays!
I'm getting a biopsy done this week because I've had a swollen lymph node on my groin for a few months. I've been itchy on my entire body and its just been getting worse and worse. I've gotten new swollen lymph nodes (mainly on my neck) my doc found some on my armpit. I also had a pain on my right rib (it comes and goes away). My collar bone, shoulders and neck are swollen (I think it's from the itching). Personally, I think I have lymphoma... hopefully I don't though. I had night sweats for about a week, I still get chills sometimes, and no fever at all or sore throat. If I'm still alive, I'll keep you updated. I'm only 20, so maybe there's hope, but who knows...
Hi, I'm sorry to hear you're feeling crappy. Have you got your results yet? I know it sucks to wait for diagnosis, but even a lymphoma diagnosis is not a death sentence. You can see that just by how many of us are still rolling around here, posting years and years after our diagnosis. You may want to check out the waiting for diagnosis discussion board. If you do get diagnosed with lymphoma, the newly diagnosed discussion board and young adult board might also be helpful. Hope you find out something soon, and that it's good news! Take care.
Hey thanks for your reply. I'm getting my results tomorrow. I got my biopsy done on my groin. It is still swollen and it hurts to get up and walk. Last night both my legs got numbed and I started to feel dizzy and nauseous. I just took 2 tylenols and felt a little better. The itch is still pretty bad. Mainly around my neck and collar bone. If I get the chance, I'll tell you the results tomorrow. I'll also check out the boards that you mentioned.
I wish you the best. I hope you get good news and some relief for your discomfort. I'll have you in my thoughts.
Hi. I did get my results and I do not have cancer. The results came out as reactive. My regular doctor said that it could be my eczema that is causing these swollen lymph nodes. But I just never heard of such a thing. The swollen lymph nodes on my neck get itchy. I have now about 5 swollen lymph nodes around my neck, about 4-6 on my groin area, a few more on my inner thigh, on my collar bone, and one on my right shoulder. My whole entire body from my scalp to the top of my feet get itchy every single day. Benadryl doesn't stop the itch either. It just puts me to sleep and by the time I wake up, I'm itchy again. I have tried multiple creams and ointments but nothing, I still remain itchy.
Yay! I'm glad to hear you don't have cancer. Yay!
It sucks that you still aren't feeling better. I use allegra when I have itchy skin. It doesn't make me sleepy, and I think it is available over the counter now. I'm sure you're sick of doctors by now, but you should keep going back or changing docotrs until you get some relief. If you are in such discomfort that you cannot lead a "normal" life, than you need to get help. I found some websites that offer some home remedies, I don't know if they'll work, but they sound harmless. You might want to give some of them a try.
http://www.home-remedies-for-you.com/remedy/Itching.html
Good luck! Hope you feel better soon!
Hello,
I have been having soaking night sweats for about 6 months now and my doctor noticed my swollen lymph node above my clavicle. I went to the oncologist did all the test and all the CT scans and so far my doctor has told me that he's 99.9% sure that i dont have hodgkins. Its been a month since then and i just now have started to itch extremely bad around my legs and arms. Just a question to your guys, when did first start having your symptoms? and which of the symptoms started first?
Thanks!
My itchy skin started a couple of years before I was diagnosed with Hodgkin's. I had no other symptoms-so it may have been unrelated. Once the lymph nodes in my neck started swelling and I started getting night sweats, I was diagnosed right away. The Dr. did a needle aspiration of my lymph node but they could not get a definite result, so I had a biopsy of one of my lymph nodes and they were able to diagnose me right away. What kind of tests did they run on you?
I started having night sweats and hot flashes and was tired, anemic, had a swollen spleen and petichia (sp?), and infections of all types about 3 years before my stage 4 diagnosis. I asked doctors to run tests but I didn't check behind them and it took that long to get the right diagnosis. I was vomitting as my final symptom because my spleen took up too much of my abdominal cavity and i was just so horribly sick. i itched but it was attributed to excima (again - sp?). Have you seen your CBC? Have you checked your thyroid and your hormone levels? maybe get a second opinion. Good Luck!!!
I would get a second opinion if i were you. How old are you and have they run other tests?
I had all the normal tests when they finally diagnosed me - CBC and Urinalysis which led to my admission to the hospital then Chest X-ray, CAT Scans, Bone Marrow Biopsy. They did others once I was diagnosed. I didn't have a biopsy of any lymph nodes because it was in my bone marrow and they suspected that so the skipped the lymph node biopsy and went straight to the bone marrow. They could also tell my spleen was swollen by just feeling my abdomen with their hands. Also, I could never get rid of infections with antibiotics because my immune system was so shot. I think all my symptoms started around the same time. the last year before diagnosis i lost 15 pounds without any apparent reason. I also lost my appetite and couldn't drink wine because it bothered my stomach the last year. Everything just kept getting worse. Night sweats definitely happened early on. I did not have a PET scan because it would not have changed the course of my treatment and I didn't have insurance. PET scan is more expensive than CAT scans. CAT scan and bone marrow were sufficient
Thanks.
I am 18 years old and so far i have had pretty much all the blood test. CBC is normal along with thyroid and hormone levels. i had skin tests to rule out tb and also had chest x-rays and the CT scan. The only thing that showed up was a small pea sized lymph node above my left clavicle. It has been a month since then, i still sweat every night and the lymph node has not grown in size. Just yesterday i started having the itching. I am just hoping that it is non-related to hodgskins.
Before I had the biopsy, there were several other diagnosis that were in the running. I wish I could remember what they were so I could pass them along to you. I have been in remission for six years (Yay!) and still have itchy skin, so it is possible that it is unrelated. If you are worried, maybe you should get a second opinion. At least keep your Dr. informed that symptoms have not improved and more are popping up.
praying for another result for you. i'm impressed your doctor ran all the tests. just stay on top of it. best wishes
Thankyou pimom and fye!
i have a biopsy on may 9th. Wish me luck, ill let you know how it goes!
i'm glad you got a biopsy scheduled. one way or another you will feel better knowing and not having it hanging over you.
Dear Melkovja,
Hope your biopsy went well and that you are recovering pain free! I am thinking of you and hope the best for you.
Pimom
Question? Worried about my 19 year old son. Starting intense itching 6 months ago. Allergy test negative. Night sweats started 3 months ago. Found enlarged lymphnodes under his chin 2 months ago. Chest xray normal. He has autism and never complains. Has been complaining of headache, random aches and pains and being tired for 2 months. 10 days of antibiotic did nothing to decrease lymphnodes. NO weight loss and NO fevers. My heart stopped when I read about the itching. Opinions wanted
It's not want you want to hear, but I'm worried your son might have lymphoma as well. He definitely has systemic symptoms of something that should be looked into. The enlarged nodes can be due to a virus (even months later), but with his other symptoms it makes me worried. I have stage 2A HL, and I had no symptoms other than enlarged lymph nodes. I say that merely to point out that you are correct to be concerned. I would encourage you to return to his doctor for more testing. I CT scan may show the enlarged lymph nodes better. A biopsy of one of the nodes may be necessary. I would also mention that I had a fine needle aspirate of my enlarged node (a needle inserted into the node and cells sucked out) that did not show the lymphoma. I had to have the node surgically removed to get diagnosed. But I had already had a CT scan that showed the node in my neck we could see as well as several we couldn't. I hope you are wrong, but better to know and be treated!
I am so sorry that you are going through this. thank you for taking the time to reply. How long were your nodes enlarged for before you were diagnosed? Which nodes? Everyone (friends/family) keep saying that because he has not lost weight that he is "fine". Dakota was born with a rare syndrome called Opitz "C" syndrome. It is extremely rare so I know that things can happen, we live it every day. I am on the phone now, finally got an appt. with his PCM on 12/2 at 8 am! So it really sounds like the only way to know for sure is to remove the node.
I went to the doctor right after finding the lump in my neck, thinking it was my thyroid. I had an US that showed that my thyroid was fine, and then went to see an ENT who did the fine needle aspirate and then the surgery to remove the node when it didn't get better. A few weeks passed trying to get all of that testing done.
I hope everything goes well at his appointment this week- please post and let us know what happens!
Thank you. I found the first node 9/23, the second one a week later and the third one this past Saturday. They are all right in a row. If you put your finger on his chin bone and then start tracing a line going towards his neck you feel them one right after the other. Thank you for sharing.
