CTLC usually takes many years to develop. Symptoms may include itching and dark dry patches in the skin. As the cancer progresses, tumors may form on the skin. This condition is called mycosis fungoides. The cancer can spread to lymph nodes or other organs such as the liver, spleen or lungs. As the cancer spreads in the skin, hair follicles and sweat glands may be destroyed. As a result, patients may lose body hair and the ability to sweat.
Because T cells are important for fighting disease, patients with advanced mycosis fungoides are susceptible to infection. Signs of infection include fever, chills and sweating, as well as symptoms of localized infection such as a cough, sore throat and a burning sensation during urination.
Patients may also experience fever, chills, weight loss and fatigue.
In a condition called Sezary syndrome, a person has CTCL along with numerous cancer cells in the blood. This accounts for about 5 percent of CTCL cases.
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