Back in 2021, I was busy with a young family and work. I was 34 and used to run quite a bit, taking part in 10k runs and half marathons. I was experiencing a few non-descript symptoms that made me visit the doctor, including feeling breathless and having a bit of a cough. It wasn’t really anything major, but I just felt like something wasn’t quite right. I had also lost a little bit of weight that I hadn’t intended to.
Because my symptoms weren’t particularly specific or urgent, the journey towards receiving my diagnosis was quite protracted. There was a bit of back and forth to my GP, before I circumvented the process and took myself off to A&E. I was initially diagnosed with pneumonia, but following a scan I was told that I had a mass in my chest which was about the size of a pineapple. I then had a needle biopsy which confirmed my diagnosis of classical Hodgkin lymphoma. I was shocked, as I was only 34 and thought that perhaps I had a thyroid problem or something like that. I certainly didn’t anticipate that I had cancer.
I started treatment pretty quickly, beginning with a chemotherapy regimen called ABVD. After two cycles, I was told the lymphoma wasn’t responding well enough so I was moved onto a different regiment called BEACOPDac. After completing the course, I was told I was in remission.
A couple of years later, I had a relapse. I received further chemotherapy and targeted therapy before undergoing an autologous stem cell transplant. I have since relapsed again which brings my story up to where I am today. As I write this in April 2026, I am receiving radiotherapy and waiting to undergo an allogeneic stem cell transplant. I recently signed up to Lymphoma Action’s relapsed and refractory lymphoma online support meeting for people who have been told that their lymphoma has come back or hasn't responded to treatment. It’s been nice to have the opportunity to share my story and have the chance to meet others in similar situations.
Living with lymphoma certainly puts things into perspective and makes you question whether the things you worried about before are really that important. I am sharing my story because for me, it has been important to read the lymphoma experiences of others, as I haven’t come across anyone in person who has had a similar journey to me. I also think it’s important to raise awareness, as I hadn’t even heard of lymphoma until they told me that was what they suspected I had, and I certainly didn’t know that it was a type of blood cancer. I hope my story can support someone else in a similar situation and assure them that they are not alone.