Georgie Swallow, a 32-year-old content producer from London, is speaking out about her experience with Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of cancer that affects the lymphatic system. She hopes to raise awareness by sharing the symptoms she ignored before being diagnosed at the age of 28.
When Georgie first started experiencing symptoms, she thought they were simply caused by stress. She even felt that seeing a doctor would be a waste of time. One of the first signs was a lump in the side of her neck, which she initially dismissed as nothing serious.
As her symptoms worsened, Georgie experienced itchy legs, night sweats, and constant fatigue. “I would itch until I broke the skin and stayed up all night,” she explained. “The doctors thought it could be stress, allergies, or urticaria, but nothing helped.” Georgie also struggled with weight loss, night sweats, and frequent illnesses but believed it was just exhaustion from being too busy.
Georgie now emphasizes that symptoms like these can be easily dismissed, which is why Hodgkin lymphoma is often diagnosed late. Her condition eventually progressed to stage 4 cancer, and she faced additional challenges during treatment, including early menopause. This loss of fertility was particularly painful for Georgie, who had hoped to have children in the future.
“Menopause at any age is difficult, but at 28, I didn’t have anyone my age to talk to about it,” Georgie said. She found it hard to relate to her friends, even though they tried to support her, because they couldn’t fully understand what she was going through.
Now, Georgie is sharing her story to encourage others to visit the doctor if they experience worrying symptoms. She wants to raise awareness about both the importance of early diagnosis and the emotional toll of early menopause.
