Persistent body pain is it leukemia or lymphoma?

This Premium Q&A, reviewed and published, features a real conversation between an iCliniq user and a physician.

Hello doctor,

I am a 33-year-old and weigh about 189 pounds. My whole body hurts. I got pain all over the body, pain in the legs and hands. Pain is persistent all the time mostly in the lower feet and hand. I am having pain for the past three months. I just had an appointment with my doctor. He ordered some blood work and told me everything is fine. And he told me to see the rheumatologist once for my peace of mind. I have attached my report. Do you see anything abnormal in my blood report? What is the cause of my body pain? Is anything wrong with my body? Do I have any underlying conditions such as leukemia, lymphoma, or any other cancer? Do I have any liver disease or thyroid disease that can lead me to pain? Before three months I did a blood test and my rheumatoid factor was 8.1 iu/ml and now it is 11 iu/ml. Why it is going up with a short duration of time? What do I need to do? I am eating healthy and getting good sleep but I am not losing weight. My vitamin D level is 40ng/ml and I am taking vitamin B12. I am taking vitamin D for almost one year. I m taking 4000 IU five days a week. Please explain in detail the treatment plan.

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Well, I have gone through your history and the reports attached.(attachment removed to protect patient identity). All the reports are normal. I could not find the reports of liver function tests there, but I suppose your doctor had already looked into it. Do not worry, you don’t have any cancers at the current time. If any cancer would cause pain, it surely would have affected your blood counts as well. As for the Rheumatoid factor, 8 or 11, can be lab variation or

instrument variation, but as long as you do not have joint swellings or pain it is insignificant. My diagnosis for pain would go for fibromyalgia. It is more of a diagnosis of exclusion and one only considers it after ruling out the other causes, which they have done so far. I will give you a link, you can go through it and let me know if your symptoms match this. As treatment will depend on your being convinced about the diagnosis.

Thank you.

I hope this helps.

Leukemia vs. lymphoma: What you need to know

Hearing about lymphoma and leukemia can be confusing. Both are types of blood cancers that impact how your body works, but they’re not the same. If you or someone you care about is facing one of these conditions, understanding the difference between leukemia and lymphoma can help you feel more

prepared and informed.

What is leukemia?

Leukemia is a type of blood cancer that begins in the bone marrow. It happens when the bone marrow makes abnormal white blood cells. These cells don’t fight infections like healthy white blood cells do. The abnormal cells can also crowd out other important blood cells, like red blood cells that carry oxygen or platelets that help your blood clot (Chennamadhavuni et al. 2023). Cancer, in general, refers to any uncontrolled cell growth in the body, which can occur in various tissues and organs, including in the blood.

Organs affected by leukemia

Leukemia mainly affects the bone marrow and bloodstream, but it can also spread to other areas, like the lymph nodes, spleen, or liver.

What is lymphoma?

Lymphoma is a type of blood cancer that affects cells called lymphocytes. Lymphoma begins in the lymphatic system, a vital part of your immune system that helps protect your body from illness and infections.

The lymphatic system is like your body’s “clean-up crew” and “security team.” It’s made up of:

• Lymph nodes: Small, bean-shaped structures that filter harmful substances, like bacteria and viruses, from your body.
• Lymphatic vessels: A
• network of tubes, similar to blood vessels, that carry a fluid called lymph throughout your body.
• Lymph: A clear fluid that contains infection-fighting white blood cells called lymphocytes.
• Other organs: These include the spleen,
  • which filters blood and stores white blood cells, and the thymus, where certain lymphocytes mature.

When you have lymphoma, some lymphocytes grow out of control. Instead of protecting you, these abnormal cells build up and can form tumors in the lymph nodes or other parts of the lymphatic system, like the spleen or bone marrow. Over time,

they may spread to other organs, making it harder for your immune system to do its job (Lymphoma 2021).

Organs affected by lymphoma

Lymphoma mainly affects the lymphatic system, but it can also impact the bone marrow, lungs, or liver.

Differences between leukemia and lymphoma

The difference between leukemia and lymphoma comes down to where these cancers begin and how they affect the body.

How they’re different

Leukemia starts in the bone marrow. In leukemia, the bone marrow produces abnormal white blood cells that don’t function properly. These defective cells don’t die off like normal cells and instead multiply quickly. Over time, they flood the bloodstream and crowd out healthy red blood cells and platelets, which can lead to problems like:

• Anemia: When your red blood cell count is too low; makes you feel tired and weak.
• Frequent infections: Because the abnormal white blood cells can’t fight germs properly.

Easy bleeding or bruising: Due to a lack of platelets, which help your blood clot.

Leukemia doesn’t typically form tumors because it spreads through the blood. Its main effect is disrupting the production and balance of blood cells, which are essential for carrying oxygen, fighting infections, and stopping bleeding (Leukemia 2022).

Lymphoma, on the other hand, begins in the lymphatic system, which is a critical part of your immune system. Unlike leukemia, lymphoma usually forms tumors. These tumors happen in the lymph nodes or other parts of the lymphatic system, such as the spleen or thymus. These tumors

skin, especially in the neck, armpits, or groin (Jamil and Mukkamalla 2023).

Over time, lymphoma can spread to other parts of the body, including the bone marrow, lungs, or liver. This spread can disrupt how these organs work and weaken the immune system, leaving the body vulnerable to infections.

Is lymphoma a form of leukemia?

No, lymphoma is not a form of leukemia. While both are blood cancers, they start in different places and behave differently.

Differences in frequency

• Leukemia is slightly less common than lymphoma.
• Leukemia mak
• es up about 3.5% of cancers in the U.S (Siegel, Miller, and Jemal 2018).
  • Lymphoma makes up about 5% of cancers in the U.S. (Siegel et al. 2023).

• Who is most at risk for getting leukemia or lymphoma?