2023-06-05 15:00:00
06:00 pm
Monday 05 June 2023
Books – Sayed Metwally
Ossie Olivia Jennings, 20, thought she had the flu, but as her symptoms continued and worsened, she knew she needed to see a doctor.
Olivia had suffered from flu-like symptoms for several months, so when she sought medical advice, she was shocked by the cancer diagnosis, according to the British newspaper Express.
She was initially diagnosed with a urinary tract infection (UTI), had a cough that didn’t go away, and a lump developed above her collarbone.
The next morning, following waking up in a cold sweat, Olivia decides to go to a private hospital.
The doctor urged Olivia to have an ultrasound, which came back clear, and a CT scan.
That was when the 20-year-old, who had never smoked and was in good health, received it.
“The doctor said I don’t have kidney stones, but I do have swollen lymph nodes all over my stomach,” Olivia said.
“It was a shock – when he mentioned my disease, that’s it for me, I thought I was going to die. At that point, the doctors were pretty sure it was cancer,” she adds.
Olivia spent another week doing more tests, including a biopsy, which confirmed the cancer was in her neck, chest, stomach and pelvis.
On January 25, 2023, Olivia is diagnosed with stage 3B Hodgkin lymphoma.
Lymphoma
Cancer Research UK explains: “Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a cancer that begins in white blood cells called lymphocytes.”
The most common symptom of Hodgkin lymphoma is painless lymph node swelling.
Symptoms can include:
Heavy sweating, especially at night
High temperatures that come and go for no apparent reason, often overnight
Losing a lot of weight in a short period of time, despite eating well
Itching that may be worse following drinking alcohol
Cough or shortness of breath
Abdominal (abdominal) pain or vomiting following drinking alcohol.
“It was a strange feeling,” Olivia recalls, reflecting on her life-changing diagnosis.
The following week, Olivia began her rounds of chemotherapy.
Speaking of her condition, she said, “It’s just one of those cancers where your body rots.”
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