Is swollen, painful lymph nodes under the armpits a concern when CLL treatment has been paused?
Swollen and painful lymph nodes in someone with CLL can signal several things, and it's important to contact the cancer care team about this change.
Here are the main possibilities:
- Infection: People with CLL have weakened Show Full Answer
Is swollen, painful lymph nodes under the armpits a concern when CLL treatment has been paused?
Swollen and painful lymph nodes in someone with CLL can signal several things, and it's important to contact the cancer care team about this change.
Here are the main possibilities:
- Infection: People with CLL have weakened immune systems, making infections more common. Infections can cause lymph nodes to swell and become painful. This is actually more likely than other causes with current CLL treatments.
- CLL progression: Enlarged lymph nodes that grow quickly or become painful could indicate the leukemia is becoming more active or aggressive, especially during a treatment break.
- Treatment effects wearing off: When treatment is paused, the CLL may start progressing again, causing lymph nodes to enlarge.
Even though treatment was stopped due to side effects, new or worsening symptoms like painful, swollen lymph nodes shouldn't be ignored. The doctor needs to evaluate whether this is an infection requiring antibiotics, or if the CLL is progressing and needs a different treatment approach.
Please reach out to the oncology team right away to have this assessed. They can examine the lymph nodes, run blood tests, and determine the best next steps.
March 30
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