Pancytopenia
It refers to the decrease in the blood count of all types of blood cells, including white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets. In lymphoma, this is caused by cytokines produced by the tumor cells as a result of genetic mutations. There’s anemia, lymphocytopenia, and thrombocytopenia. Anemia can cause fatigue, pallor breathing difficulties, lightheadedness, tachycardia and tachypnoea, postural hypertension, and generalized weakness. Patient with pancytopenia are at high risk of infections, especially when there is neutropenia. It causes frequent episodes of sore throat, and may lead to perianal pain due to infection, and even sepsis if the infection is severe. Thrombocytopenia can lead to generalized bleeding, including purpura, easy bruising, epistaxis (bleeding from the nose), and bleeding gums. There may also be gastric and genitourinary bleeding episodes.