How is lymphoma diagnosed?

Diagnosis of lymphoma starts with the doctor asking about your symptoms and doing a physical exam. Your doctor will check for swollen lymph nodes and organs throughout your body. If your doctor suspects lymphoma, he or she will order blood tests to check the numbers and appearance of your blood cells (red cells, white cells and platelets). Sometimes the diagnosis can be made with a special blood test called flow cytometry. This test is a way to sort and identify the different types of cells in the blood, including cancerous lymph cells. Your doctor will likely recommend a lymph node biopsy to confirm the diagnosis.