April Grierson, 20, initially thought that her washing powder caused her chronic itching. However, her itchy skin that started in June last year persisted until months later when her general practitioner (GP) diagnosed her with Hodgkin lymphoma, a kind of cancer in the lymphatic system.
Misdiagnosed Itchy Skin Turns Out to Be Cancer: 20-Year-Old Woman Diagnosed With Hodgkin Lymphoma After Chronic Itching
Chronic Itching A Symptom of Hodgkin Lymphoma
The 20-year-old make-up artist documented her story on TikTok and it has over 5.1 million views and 533,600 likes already. In one of her videos, April said that she had already sensed that something was wrong and even told her mother of her suspicion of having cancer. But her mother dismissed her concern and attributed her symptoms to anxiety, MailOnline reported.
At first, April tried to figure out what caused her chronic itching. But when nothing worked, and a lump started to appear in her neck, she decided to call her GP. She was later referred to a head and neck specialist. Apparently, her suspicion of having cancer was right.
In November 2021, she was diagnosed with stage 2 Hodgkin lymphoma. Her blood samples, CT scans, and biopsy showed she had blood cancer and the lump in her neck was a tumor.
To make matters worse, she also suffered a second tragedy when her ovaries swelled and leaked fluid into her body when the doctors tried ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) to retrieve some of her eggs in case chemotherapy would affect her fertility in the future. April aims to raise awareness from her lymphoma journey and hopes people will be mindful of their bodies.
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Hodgkin Vs. Non-Hodgkin Lymphomas
When cells grow out of control, they can result in cancer and spread to any part of the body. American Cancer Society said that one of the many types of cancer is lymphoma, which starts in white blood cells called lymphocytes. It can be categorized into two types - Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL) and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL).
The two types behave, spread, and respond to treatment differently, so it is important to determine which type the patient has. Hodgkin lymphoma mostly starts in lymph nodes in the upper body like the chest, neck, or under the arms. It often spread through lymph vessels and rarely invades the bloodstream during the later stages.
Meanwhile, non-Hodgkin lymphoma often begins in white blood cells called lymphocytes, which are found in the immune system. It often affects adults than children, although kids may also develop it.
Symptoms of Hodgkin Lymphoma
According to Mayo Clinic, doctors are not sure what causes Hodgkin lymphoma. However, according to them, it could involve the infection in lymphocytes or a genetic mutation that tells the cells to multiply rapidly, which causes the diseased cells to multiply rapidly.
The symptoms for Hodgkin lymphoma may include painless swelling of lymph nodes in the neck armpits or groin, persistent fatigue, fever, night sweats, sudden weight loss, chronic itching, and increased sensitivity to the effects of alcohol or having painful feelings after drinking alcoholic drinks.
It is advisable to immediately set an appointment with a doctor if any of the mentioned symptoms persist or if experienced symptoms cause worry and anxiety.
Read also: Lymphoma Cell Growth and Survival: New Study Shows Targeting ATF4 Gene Could Help Kill Cancer
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