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Pain Associated with the Treatment of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

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John Han-Chih Chang, MD
Last Modified: November 1, 2001

Dear OncoLink "Ask the Experts,"
I would like to know more about non-Hodgkinís Lymphoma (NHL) classified as diffuse and follicular small cleaved cells and the associated pain (due to the cancer, chemotherapy, and filgastrim). I am told that the pain is so severe that at times you can't walk, write or apply pressure to any thing.

I would also like to take this time and congratulate you on your web site. It is full of information that lets one know about the different types of cancer and all the help that is out there.  
Thank you.
L. W.

John Han-Chih Chang, MD, OncoLink Editorial Assistant, responds:

Dear L. W.
Thank you for your interest and question. We also appreciate your nice words, it is what keeps us going that we may provide a useful service to those in need.

Pain is a very subjective symptom among cancer patients. Most patients will have some sort of pain related to their malignancy if it involves the bones or other organs. It is difficult to diagnose where your pain originates based your description. NHL as with other malignancies causes pain when it involves sensitive organs such as bone (as I alluded to before), spleen, liver, in and around nerves, skin, etc. Chemotherapy can cause neuropathic pain depending on the type and the dosages utilized. Filgastrim can cause very severe pain syndromes of muscles, joints and chest.