Doctors told me I had tonsillitis but the truth was so much worse – hidden warning signs I had life-threatening disease
A YOUNG woman has revealed the hidden warning signs that finally showed she had a deadly disease – but only after doctors initially insisted she just had tonsillitis.
Chloe Reid has shared her story on TikTok and urged others to be on the alert, after belatedly discovering she had a form of cancer.
The 21-year-old insisted people be vigilant as she outlined the symptoms she experienced ahead of being diagnosed with stage two Hodgkin lymphoma in March this year.
She has posted a series of photos taken throughout her treatment – including one of a visible lump on her neck.
Chloe described how it first appeared last November – only for medics to insist it was “a lingering infection from tonsillitis“.
She told viewers about “going back and forth to the doctors for blood tests and needle biopsys in my neck” – then “finally having an operation for a biopsy done in March 23, hoping it was nothing”.
Yet that same month she was told she did in fact have the far more potentially-dangerous stage two Hodgkin lymphoma.
Chloe decided then to freeze her eggs for the future, in the next stage of her cancer journey she shared – which meant a follow-up operation.
She then began chemotherapy treatment in May, “six months after being told it was an infection” – and has since declared herself “cancer-free”.
She ends the 42-second clip with the hopeful message: “First cycle of chemo completed, one step closer to being in remission.”
The video has been watched more than 25,000 times on the site, with many people commenting to pass on support and concern.
Among them were worried viewers asking about loved ones who have shown similar early symptoms.
These included a commenter who posted: “My 14-year-old sister has just come to me with a lump in her neck.
“She has a cold and swollen tonsils – should we be worried?”
Another wrote: “I was told it was tonsillitis but I had it in January and it felt nothing like tonsillitis.
“I’ve got an abnormal nodule – waiting for results Tuesday.”
Chloe has since posted a follow-up video, listing her symptoms.
She described them as “night sweats, constant fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, pains when drinking alcohol, and feeling unwell all the time”.
The official NHS website lists signs of both tonsillitis and Hodgkin lymphoma but while there are overlaps there are also differences.
The health service says signs of tonsillitis can be a sore throat, problems swallowing, a high temperature of 37C or above, coughing, a headache, feeling sick, earache and being tired.
More serious cases can involve swollen and painful glands on your neck, pus-filled spots on your tonsils and bad breath, the site adds.
The NHS guide to Hodgkin lymphoma describes it as something that “can develop at any age, but it mostly affects people between 20 and 40 years of age and those over 75”.
More men than women tend to be affected and about 2,100 people across the UK are diagnosed with it each year.
The most common symptom is said to be “a painless swelling in a lymph node, usually in the neck, armpit or groin”.
The NHS also lists more “general” symptoms such as night sweats, unintentional weight loss, a high temperature, a persistent cough or feeling of breathlessness, and a persistent itching of skin all over the body.
Chloe is not alone in later finding out she had the disease after previously believing it was a lesser illness.
A teenage boy from Falkirk in Scotland was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma last year after initial assumptions he had an allergy.
An events co-ordinator from Derby found she had the disease after first thinking she had developed an allergy to alcohol.
Meanwhile, a beautician from Biggin Hill in south-east London was given her diagnosis after initially being assured she only had a cold.
Other sufferers of stage two Hodgkin lymphoma have included Wales international footballer David Brooks, who has been speaking about his recovery ahead of returning to action with Premier League club Bournemouth.
A young woman from Skipton in North Yorkshire was ultimately told she had stage four non-Hodgkin lymphoma even though doctors originally suggested she was merely “too stressed”.
A dad of three from Dunfermline in Scotland has also urged people to be on alert for what has been described as a “silent killer” disease, urging them to get quickly checked any lumps on your neck.
What is non-Hodgkin lymphoma?
NON-Hodgkin lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system. It affects more than 14,000 Brits every year and is the sixth most common type of cancer in adults the UK.
What is non-Hodgkin lymphoma?
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is a cancer that attacks the sufferer’s lymphatic system.
It starts in the white blood cells, which are part of the body’s immune system.
More than 12,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma each year.
It can occur at any age but statistically more men than women develop the condition, and the chances of it occurring increase as you get older – most cases are diagnosed in people over 65.
What causes non-Hodgkin lymphoma?
The precise cause of the disease is not known, however those who have a close relative with the condition are a slightly higher risk.
Other risk factors include:
- those with a medical condition that weakens the immune system
- those who take immunosuppressant medications
- those who have been exposed to the common Epstein-Barr virus – which causes glandular fever
What are the signs and symptoms of non-Hodgkin lymphoma?
Signs and symptoms of the disease may include;
- Abdominal pain or swelling
- Swollen lymph nodes in the neck, armpits or groin
- Chest pain, breathing difficulties or coughing
- Persistent fatigue
- Fevers or night sweats
- Unexplained weight loss
The only way to confirm a diagnosis of non-Hodgkin lymphoma is via a biopsy.
What is the treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma?
The main treatments for non-Hodgkin lymphoma are chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
There is also a type of targeted treatment used called monoclonal antibody therapy.
The NHS states that overall, most cases of the disease are considered treatable.
However, there can be a risk of long-term issues developing post-treatment such as infertility and an increased risk of developing another type of cancer.