For months, 26-year-old Millie Adamson had to scale back her social life, canceling holidays, missing nights out, and eventually stopping drinking entirely because a single glass of wine triggered severe upper back pain and redness in her face.

As a gym regular, she initially thought she had strained a muscle, a view shared by her general practitioner before the pain eventually subsided.

Severe itching began in 2024, becoming so intense that she used a spiky hairbrush on her legs until they bled, often sleeping in a separate bed from her boyfriend so her scratching would not wake him.

Medical professionals initially attributed her itching to stress, anxiety, eczema, or allergies, leading her to avoid family pets and foods like prawns after blood tests showed a mild reaction to dogs.

Between visiting her GP starting in December 2024 and consulting various doctors at least five times over nine months, she received moisturizers and antihistamines that provided no relief.

After developing night sweats and using private health insurance through her job to see a dermatologist in September 2025, a chest X-ray and subsequent CT scan revealed a large mass in her chest.

Her boyfriend used ChatGPT to search her symptoms, which included Hodgkin lymphoma among four possible matches.

Further testing confirmed the blood cancer diagnosis, which affects roughly 2,100 people in the UK annually and explained her previous alcohol-induced back pain.

Following a biopsy of the chest mass, she felt pain in the exact same location she had experienced years earlier when drinking alcohol.

Despite receiving a cancer diagnosis, she felt immense relief because she finally had answers and a clear path forward after months of uncertainty.

She completed six cycles of intensive chemotherapy in March of this year, followed by 15 sessions of proton beam therapy that concluded in the spring.

Now 27, she has returned to work with a promotion, plays netball, goes to the gym, and prepares for a half marathon in November to support The Christie cancer centre.

Understanding Hodgkin Lymphoma

Hodgkin lymphoma arises when infection-fighting white blood cells called lymphocytes multiply abnormally, most frequently striking people aged 20 to 40 and adults over 75.

UK rates have climbed over a third since the early 1990s, with diagnoses among women increasing by 31 percent since 2019.

While swollen lymph glands in the neck, armpit, or groin are the best-known indicators, the disease can also develop deep inside the chest or abdomen.

Professor Graham Collins, consultant haematologist and lymphoma lead at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, notes that growths in the chest cause breathlessness and coughing, while tummy growths bring discomfort and bloating.

Additional warning signs include unusual fatigue, heavy night sweats, unexpected weight loss, and fevers without obvious infection.

Drinking alcohol causes pain in affected lymph glands for only five percent of patients, while itching occurs due to internal inflammation releasing chemicals that irritate skin or nerve endings.

Professor Collins advises that individuals experiencing new, widespread itching that worsens, disrupts sleep, or causes bleeding from scratching should seek medical evaluation, particularly if standard skin treatments fail.

I just wanted relief from the itching - but it turned out to be cancer

By Christine Jennings, Production Editor

I couldn't understand what was happening to me when I started itching all over.

I was constantly scratching and even had my husband attack my feet, which I hate being touched, with a hairbrush.

Friends and family tried giving me advice, such as change your washing powder or use body cream.

Deep inside I knew these wouldn't help, but I didn't know what would.

After two months of agonising itching, in which it didn't even occur to me to seek medical help, I was sitting at my desk at work when I just brushed my hand against my neck and shoulder.

Was that a lump?

I rushed to the ladies but couldn't see anything, so I moved my hand over the place again.

I could definitely feel something, and when I pushed my shoulders back, I could see a swelling.

Probably swollen glands, I thought.

With the constant itching and now a lump, I finally decided to head to the doctors.

Once there, I told my GP about the constant itching.

New cat, she asked?

Yes, but I'm sure it's not that.

Have you changed your washing powder?

No.

As I felt her interest waning, I blurted out: Oh and I've found what I think is a lump on my neck.

Straight away I could see a change in her, and within a week I was in hospital having scans and blood tests, only to be told it was lymphoma.

I'd never even heard of it and certainly didn't know it was cancer.

Within days I was at hospital for my first chemotherapy, and was so excited that I would finally get relief from my itching.

I had no idea of the gruelling effects rounds of chemo would have in the months ahead.

Thankfully, the itching did stop and after six months of chemo for Hodgkin's lymphoma, plus two more additional months of treatment, I was given the all-clear.

Now, over twenty years have passed and I'm still cancer-free, but the tiniest of itches can make me anxious.

My advice to anyone with the same symptoms is to see your GP straight away.

And be persistent. My GP's swift actions saved my life.