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The Daily Insight

What does lymphoma fatigue feel like?

Author

Olivia Hensley

Updated on March 16, 2026

You feel as if you have no energy and could spend whole day in bed. Waking up tired after a full night's sleep. Feeling sluggish or slow. Trouble thinking and making decisions.

Does lymphoma fatigue come and go?

Such fatigue is often more severe compared to the usual fatigue in healthy people. The lymphoma fatigue may persist for months to years even after the cancer is in remission.

What does cancer fatigue feel like?

People who experience cancer fatigue often describe it as "paralyzing." Usually, it comes on suddenly and is not the result of activity or exertion. With this type of fatigue, no amount of rest or sleep helps. You feel physically, emotionally and mentally exhausted most of the time.

Do people with lymphoma sleep a lot?

It's a common symptom in people with blood cancer, including lymphoma. Many people who are treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy report feeling fatigued at some point during their treatment. If you have lymphoma and another condition that affects your energy levels, you might be more at risk of developing fatigue.

Does lymphoma cause extreme tiredness?

Persistent, severe fatigue is a common symptom among people with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Fatigue can be caused by lymphoma itself, or it can be a side effect of lymphoma treatments like chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Fatigue and lymphoma: Martin's story

What is the most common early symptom of lymphoma?

The most common sign of lymphoma is a lump or lumps, usually in the neck, armpit or groin. These lumps are swollen lymph nodes, sometimes known as 'glands'. Usually, they're painless. Fatigue is different to normal tiredness.

What are early warning signs of lymphoma?

Signs and symptoms of lymphoma may include:

  • Painless swelling of lymph nodes in your neck, armpits or groin.
  • Persistent fatigue.
  • Fever.
  • Night sweats.
  • Shortness of breath.
  • Unexplained weight loss.
  • Itchy skin.

Does lymphoma cause weakness in legs?

Lymphomas involving the brain or spinal cord may cause neurological symptoms such as confusion, numbness or weakness in the arms or legs. Lymphomas in the chest can cause cough, shortness of breath, or chest pain.

What cancers cause fatigue?

Is fatigue a sign of cancer? Fatigue may develop as a symptom of blood cancers, such as leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma, because these cancers start in the bone marrow, which produces red blood cells that carry oxygen throughout the body.

What does fatigue feel like?

Fatigue is a feeling of constant tiredness or weakness and can be physical, mental or a combination of both. It can affect anyone, and most adults will experience fatigue at some point in their life. Each year, around 1.5 million Australians see their doctor about fatigue. Fatigue is a symptom, not a condition.

When should you worry about fatigue?

Call for an appointment with your doctor if your fatigue has persisted for two or more weeks despite making an effort to rest, reduce stress, choose a healthy diet and drink plenty of fluids.

Is extreme fatigue a symptom of cancer?

Extreme fatigue that doesn't get better with rest can be an early sign of cancer. Cancer uses your body's nutrients to grow and advance, so those nutrients are no longer replenishing your body.

Why do I keep feeling tired all the time?

Many possible factors cause chronic fatigue, such as underlying medical conditions, nutrient deficiencies, sleep disturbances, caffeine intake, and chronic stress. If you're experiencing unexplained fatigue, it's important to talk with your doctor to find the cause.

How does lymphoma make you feel?

An enlarged spleen might press on the stomach, which can cause a loss of appetite and feeling full after only a small meal. Lymphomas in the stomach or intestines can cause abdominal pain, nausea, or vomiting.

What does blood work show with lymphoma?

A low white blood cell count can occur due to lymphoma or other conditions, like an autoimmune disorder. Lymphoma sometimes shows in the blood as an abnormally high white blood cell count. Platelets, which are cells that clot the blood. Lymphoma in the bone marrow may result in a low platelet count.

Does Hodgkin's lymphoma make you tired?

Fatigue is a commonly reported symptom associated with Hodgkin lymphoma.

What are the kinds of fatigue?

There are three types of fatigue: transient, cumulative, and circadian: Transient fatigue is acute fatigue brought on by extreme sleep restriction or extended hours awake within 1 or 2 days.

How long can fatigue last?

Fatigue is very common after viral infections, such as COVID and normally it settles after 2 or 3 weeks. However, in some people it can linger for weeks or months.

What cancers are detected by blood tests?

Blood tests can be useful in all types of cancer, particularly blood cancers such as:

  • Hodgkin lymphoma.
  • Leukemia.
  • Non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
  • Multiple myeloma.

What can be mistaken for lymphoma?

Conditions that non-Hodgkin Lymphoma is commonly misdiagnosed as include:

  • Influenza.
  • Hodgkin's lymphoma.
  • Cat scratch fever.
  • HIV.
  • Infections.
  • Mononucleosis.

How do you feel with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma?

Signs and symptoms of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma may include:

  1. Swollen lymph nodes in your neck, armpits or groin.
  2. Abdominal pain or swelling.
  3. Chest pain, coughing or trouble breathing.
  4. Persistent fatigue.
  5. Fever.
  6. Night sweats.
  7. Unexplained weight loss.

Does lymphoma affect the hands?

Peripheral neuropathy that is a side effect of chemotherapy is sometimes known as 'chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy' (CIPN). CIPN affects the sensory nerves more often than motor or autonomic nerves. It often causes mild symptoms, such as tingling in your hands and feet.

What is the most common presenting symptom of Hodgkin's lymphoma?

The most common symptom of Hodgkin lymphoma is one or more enlarged (swollen) lymph nodes. The enlarged lymph node may be in the neck, upper chest, armpit, abdomen or groin. The swollen lymph node is usually painless.

Do you feel sick with lymphoma?

Anaplastic large cell lymphomas (ALCL) may come with symptoms such as fever, backache, painless swelling of lymph nodes, poor appetite, itchy skin, rashes and fatigue. Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL) often causes symptoms such as fever, night sweats, rashes and itchy skin.

Would lymphoma show up in blood tests?

Most types of lymphoma can't be diagnosed by a blood test. However, blood tests can help your medical team find out how lymphoma and its treatment are affecting your body. They can also be used to find out more about your general health.