Hyderabad, September 15, 2025: Each year on September 15, the global lymphoma community comes together to mark World Lymphoma Awareness Day—a day dedicated exclusively to raising awareness about lymphoma,one of the most common type of blood cancer. In 2025, the worldwide theme “Spot the Signs, Save a Life” reinforces the urgent call for early recognition and timely treatment. CARE Hospitals joins this global effort, urging people to understand the symptoms and act promptly to improve survival rates.
Dr. M A Suboor Shaherose
Lymphoma remains a serious and growing health concern both in India and across the world. Globally, more than 6,30,000 new cases of lymphoma are diagnosed every year, and it accounts for roughly 3% of all cancer cases. In India, incidence has been steadily rising, with an estimated over 60,000 new patients each year, many presenting at advanced stages due to delayed recognition of symptoms. Experts warn that lifestyle factors, late diagnosis, and limited awareness continue to contribute to the high disease burden and underscore the need for widespread education and regular health check-ups.
A 66-year-old woman’s experience at CARE Hospitals underscores this message. She sought help only for persistent neck and shoulder pain, initially consulting orthopaedic and neurology specialists. Scans revealed a cervical spine mass, and surgery confirmed B-cell Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a type of blood cancer. A whole-body PET-CT scan showed lymph node involvement in her chest and abdomen. After six cycles of chemotherapy combined with targeted therapy, she achieved complete remission and continues regular follow-up.
Dr. M A Suboor Shaherose, Consultant Medical and Hemato Oncologist, CARE Hospitals, Hyderabad, explained, “Lymphoma can mimic everyday problems like back or neck pain, prolonged fever, or unexplained fatigue. People often delay specialist evaluation because the early signs don’t seem serious. This year’s theme reminds us that spotting the signs early can truly save lives.”
He further added, “Early intervention is key. With advances in diagnostic imaging and targeted therapies, we are seeing far better outcomes than ever before. Patients who seek timely care not only respond better to treatment but also maintain a higher quality of life. Our focus at CARE Hospitals remains on achieving the best clinical outcomes while supporting patients through every step of their journey.”
Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system, an essential part of the body’s immune defense. It is mainly classified into Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, the latter having subtypes such as B-cell and T-cell. While uncommon presentations include persistent pain or deep-seated swelling, classic symptoms include painless enlargement of lymph nodes in the neck, armpit, or groin, persistent fever, drenching night sweats, unexplained weight loss, abdominal pain, and lasting fatigue.
Diagnosis is confirmed through a lymph node biopsy, preferably an excision biopsy, and staging requires a whole-body PET-CT scan, with bone marrow tests when necessary. Treatments include chemotherapy, targeted therapies, monoclonal antibodies, radiation therapy, bone marrow transplantation for relapsed disease, and advanced options such as CAR T-cell therapy for resistant lymphomas.
While lymphoma cannot always be prevented, regular health check-ups, attention to unusual symptoms, a balanced diet, and regular physical activity can lead to earlier detection and better outcomes.
CARE Hospitals, one of India’s leading healthcare networks, provides comprehensive cancer care with state-of-the-art diagnostics and therapies across 17 facilities in seven cities.