I was diagnosed with cancer at just 23 after noticing something odd after a night out
MANY people love a glass of wine during a night out.
But for Izzy Fletcher, just one glass had left her with unusual aches and pains and a headache.
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The party-loving graduate initially thought she’d developed an alcohol allergy in March 2022, when she developed the strange symptoms.
But months later, after trying to manage the symptoms herself and undergoing a battery of medical tests, Izzy was diagnosed with stage two Hodgkin lymphoma on January 10 this year.
There are around 2,100 new cases and 311 deaths in the UK each year, according to Cancer Research UK.
There are over 8,830 new cases and around 900 deaths in the US each year, according to the American Cancer Society.
The cancer develops in the lymphatic system, a network of vessels and glands distributed throughout your body.
It mostly affects people between the ages of 20 and 40 and those over 75, according to the NHS.
Events coordinator Izzy said the diagnosis was a “relief” as she felt she had “gone insane”.
Izzy, from Derby, Derbyshire, said: “It would be really strange because I would have a drink and the reaction to it would last forever.
“I got a drink, I think it was a glass of wine or something. I started drinking it and had what started out as a really raging headache. It was really weird.
“My head felt like it was about to explode. I had a really tight chest.
“If I went out and knew that once I started drinking more I would drink a lot [the pain] went. So everyone encouraged me to drink more.”
She added that her boyfriend would tell her the problem was “psychological” and that it wouldn’t happen if she didn’t think about it.
Izzy also struggled with a cough, but the doctor thought her other symptoms were unrelated, she said.
“Then when they realized it was Hodgkin’s lymphoma, they realized it was related.
“When they told me that, it was a relief. I wasn’t going crazy,” she said.
Izzy claims she’s always loved parties, but admits that a glass of booze these days isn’t always worth the immediate pain.
She is due to start chemotherapy this week and has high hopes that the procedure will be successful.
Despite “consuming” fear of her diagnosis, the unsuspecting cancer victim tries to keep a positive attitude.
You need to know the symptoms of Hodgkin lymphoma
The NHS states that the most common symptoms of the disease are swelling in the neck, armpit or groin.
The swelling is usually painless, but some people may feel like it hurts, the instructions say.
Most of the time, swollen glands are a sign of infection rather than cancer.
Some people with Hodgkin lymphoma may also experience more general symptoms, and these include:
- night sweats
- unintentional weight loss
- high temperature (fever)
- persistent cough or shortness of breath
- persistent itching of the skin all over the body.
Symptoms can also depend on where the lymph glands are enlarged. So if this is in your stomach you may experience pain or indigestion there, according to the NHS.
Some people with the disease also have abnormal cells in their bone marrow.
This can lead to symptoms such as:
- persistent tiredness or exhaustion
- an increased risk of infection
- excessive bleeding – such as nosebleeds, heavy periods, and spots of blood under the skin
Sometimes people with Hodgkin lymphoma experience pain in their lymph glands when they drink alcohol, the guide adds.
If you are concerned about any of your symptoms, you should talk to your GP.
In an emergency, always call 999 or visit the nearest emergency room.
She added that the most important thing she learned from this experience is that if something is wrong or if you are concerned, you should have it checked.
“As a 23-year-old you don’t really think, ‘Oh, I’d better go to the GP and get checked out’.
“You obviously don’t expect it to be really that serious, and of course you never expect to get cancer at 23.
“I think your thoughts automatically go to your family, your friends and who you love.
“You feel this guilt: It’s so out of your control that you can’t do anything about it, but your family will be counting on your health for their happiness for the next six months.”
She added that while she’s never struggled with anxiety, she felt “crazy” in the days leading up to her diagnosis.
“I can’t really eat anything, I don’t think about anything else. I find that quite draining.
“I’ll still have a drink if I feel like it, you just have to take it day by day.
“But sometimes you know that unless you work hard all night and take tequila shots, the pain just isn’t worth it.
“It’s weird because I’ve always been a big drinker and I’ve always loved to party.
“Now my treatment consists of six months of chemotherapy. In terms of curability and survival, it has a really, really high success rate,” she added.
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https://www.the-sun.com/health/7327091/diagnosed-cancer-noticing-something-odd-night-out/ I was diagnosed with cancer at just 23 after noticing something odd after a night out