Hodgkin’s lymphoma: ‘I was told blood cancer is growing’

A teenager whose cancer symptoms were initially put down to ‘growing pains’ has urged youngsters to ‘persevere’ with their doctors.

Alessia, who was eventually diagnosed with stage four Hodgkin’s lymphoma, said she felt excessively tired last summer and had painful joints.

The 16-year-old, from Wigan, urged teenagers to “check themselves” and trust their instincts.

NHS England has been contacted for comment.

The Teenage Cancer Trust – which provides support and care to young people throughout their treatment – said seven 13-24-year-olds were diagnosed with cancer every day in the UK.

Hodgkin’s lymphoma is among the most common types of cancer found in that age group, but getting a diagnosis can be difficult.

The symptoms are sometimes mistaken for growing pains or infections, the trust said.

Alessia said she began to be “very tired, with barely any energy or motivation” and joint pain that “got worse over time”.

Alessia was assigned as Jen Duggan’s support worker and they formed a unique bond.

Alessia said Jen helped her “massively” during treatment and they did fun things together, including making TikTok videos, which “take your mind off everything else and why it’s really happening”.

She initially said what upset her the most was worrying about losing her hair and thinking about the side effects of her treatment.

But she said it didn’t bother her anymore.

In February, the Government launched a Children and Young People’s Expert Group, led by childhood cancer campaigner Dame Caroline Dinenage, to improve the treatment, detection and research of cancer in young people.

Alessia spoke about her experiences during an assembly at her high school in Wigan.

She told her classmates: “I suffered and thought too much about my image, people’s opinions and what they think of me.

“I realized that even though my wig, for example, gave me unreal amounts of confidence, I didn’t need it to be confident and to be myself.”

Alessia urged others who suspect something is wrong to “be persistent and get it checked out.”

And she added: “Always trust your gut.”