Further tests for non Hodgkin's lymphoma
This page tells you about tests you may have if you have been diagnosed with non Hodgkin's lymphoma. There is information on
Further tests for non Hodgkin’s lymphoma
If lymphoma cells were found in the lymph node you had biopsied, your doctor will want you to have a lot more tests to find out whether the disease has spread. The doctors will need to know which parts of your body are affected.
You are likely to have blood tests, a CT scan, a bone marrow test and an ultrasound scan.
Tests occasionally used in lymphoma
Most people have one or two other tests, as well as the ones above. You may have
- Lumbar puncture
- Endoscopy
- X-ray of the gullet and stomach (barium meal)
- MRI scan, PET scan or bone scan
- Intravenous urogram
After the tests
Waiting for your results is a very anxious time for most people. While you are waiting it may help to talk to a close friend or relative about how you are feeling. Or you may want to contact a cancer support group to talk to someone who has been through similar experiences.
If the lymph node you had biopsied contained lymphoma cells, your doctor will want you to have more tests to find out whether the disease has spread. The doctors will need to know which parts of your body are affected.
There are many different tests you may have. Most people will be asked to have
These tests will be repeated every so often during your treatment to check how you are doing.
Blood tests
Throughout your treatment you will be asked to have blood tests. These are to check
- Blood cell levels
- How well your liver is working
- How well your kidneys are working
- Blood levels of substances such as calcium and proteins
- LDH
LDH stands for lactate dehydrogenase. This is a substance in the blood which is at higher than normal levels in some types of cancer. Raised LDH in the blood stream may indicate that a cancer is growing.
CT scan
You may have a CT scan of your chest, abdomen or pelvis. This is a type of X-ray that takes pictures from different angles. The pictures feed into a computer and form a detailed picture of the inside of your body. The scan shows up any lymph nodes affected by lymphoma. The scan technician or doctor may ask you to drink a liquid called 'contrast medium' before the scan. The liquid makes the scan pictures of your gut clearer. But unfortunately, it often gives you diarrhoea afterwards. For more about having a CT scan, look at the 'cancer tests' section of CancerHelp UK.
Bone marrow test
This test is to see whether there are cancer cells in your bone marrow. The doctor removes a tiny sample of bone marrow cells to look at under a microscope. The test only takes a few minutes and you can have it as an outpatient. There is more about having a bone marrow test in the 'cancer tests' section of CancerHelp UK.
Ultrasound scan
Ultrasound scans are useful for looking at individual organs such as the liver and kidneys. There is more about having an ultrasound scan in the 'cancer tests' section of CancerHelp UK.
Most people have one or two other tests, as well as the ones above. You may have any of these tests
Lumbar puncture
Your doctor may ask you to have a test called a lumbar puncture. This is to see whether there are any lymphoma cells in your cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The CSF is fluid that circulates around your brain and spinal cord. There is more about having a lumbar puncture in the 'cancer tests' section of CancerHelp UK.
Endoscopy
This is a test to look inside the body. An endoscope is a long bendy tube with a camera and a light inside it. You can have an
- Endoscopy of the stomach and gullet (oesophagus)
- Endoscopy of the upper airways
- Endoscopy of your bowel and back passage (rectum)
For non Hodgkin's lymphoma you are most likely to have endoscopy of your gullet and stomach or upper airways. There is more about having an endoscopy in the 'cancer tests' section of CancerHelp UK.
Endoscopy of the stomach and gullet (oesophagus)
The endoscopy tube is put down your throat into your stomach. It is usually done while you are awake. But you will have a sedative beforehand and will probably not remember the test afterwards.
The tube goes into your mouth and down your throat. The doctor examines the inside of your gullet and stomach. If necessary, the tube can look into your small bowel as well.
Endoscopy of the upper airways
This is often called a bronchoscopy. If you have enlarged lymph nodes in your chest, your doctor may want to look inside your airways using an endoscope. This test is done while you are awake. But you will have a sedative beforehand and will probably not remember the test afterwards. The tube goes up your nose or into your mouth. The doctor looks at the inside of your airways and takes samples of tissue (biopsies) if necessary.
Endoscopy of your bowel and back passage (rectum)
Endoscopic tests of your bowel have different names depending on which part of the bowel is being looked at. A proctoscopy will just look at the back passage (rectum), a sigmoidoscopy will look at the lower part of the large bowel, and a colonoscopy will look at the whole of the large bowel. You shouldn't need a sedative for a proctoscopy or a sigmoidoscopy. But you will probably be offered sedation before a colonoscopy, because this is more uncomfortable. Your doctor will ask you to lie on your side and will pass a flexible tube into your rectum and up into your bowel. As the tube bends easily, it can pass around the curves in the bowel. The light inside the tube helps the doctor to see any problem areas or swelling. Photographs and biopsies of the bowel lining can be taken during the test. There is more detailed information about having these tests in our bowel cancer tests section.
X-ray of the stomach and gullet
Your doctor may want to do X-rays of your gullet (oesophagus) and stomach to see whether there is any lymphoma there. Lymphoma can sometimes affect the stomach. This test is called a barium meal. There is more about having a barium meal in the 'cancer tests' section of CancerHelp UK.
MRI or PET scan
These scans may be done to give the doctor a clearer idea of where the lymphoma is in your body. MRI scans can sometimes show up soft tissues more clearly than CT scans.
PET scans are useful for showing the difference between tissues that are actively growing (like cancer) and inactive fibrous tissues. A CT scan can show an enlarged lymph node, but it may not be enlarged because of cancer. It could be enlarged with fibrous scar tissue from an old injury or infection. A PET scan can show if it is old scar tissue. You may have a PET scan after your treatment. A PET scan can show if any remaining lumps are scar tissue or lymphoma that has not responded to the treatment.
There is more about having a PET scan and having an MRI scan in the 'cancer tests' section of CancerHelp UK.
Intravenous urogram
This test looks at the bladder and kidneys, and the tubes that connect them. It is sometimes called an IVU or IVP (intravenous pyelogram). There is more about having a urogram in the 'cancer tests' section of CancerHelp UK.
Bone scan
This test looks for NHL in the bones. You will only have this if you have bone pain. Go to the 'cancer tests' section of CancerHelp UK for information about having a bone scan.
You will have to come back to the hospital when your test results have come through. But this is bound to take a little time, even if only a week or so. This is a very anxious time for most people. While you are waiting for results, it may help to talk to a close friend or relative about how you are feeling. Or you may want to contact a cancer support group to talk to someone who has been through similar experiences.
If you would like to talk to someone outside your own friends and family, look on our counselling organisations page. To find out more about counselling, look in the what is counselling?' section.
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