A woman has shared three critical symptoms she ignored before being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. At 28, London-based content creator Georgie Swallow learned she had Hodgkin lymphoma, a discovery that also led to early menopause and infertility. For over a year and a half, she dismissed warning signs, believing she was simply stressed and tired. “I never even contemplated there would be anything seriously wrong with me, naively,” she said.

Georgie experienced persistent fatigue, itchy legs, and night sweats. “I would itch until I broke the skin, which would keep me up all night,” she recalled, adding that no cream or lifestyle change helped. While at work, she discovered a peach-sized lump on her neck after weeks of flu-like symptoms, weight loss, and exhaustion.

She noted that lymphoma symptoms are often mild, making it easy to overlook them. “You can brush the symptoms off as other things,” she explained.

The illness and its treatment had a lasting impact. Early menopause at 28 left her feeling isolated. “None of my friends understood what I was going through, and as supportive as they were, it’s hard to comfort and relate to something you don’t understand.”

Now 32, Georgie works to raise awareness about lymphoma’s symptoms and the mental health challenges of early menopause. “Cancer can take quite a lot away from you,” she said.