Georgie Swallow received a diagnosis that she had developed stage four cancer at the age of 28. After ignoring three unusual cancer symptoms, she then discovered she was going into early menopause. Read more below to find out what these early cancer symptoms were.
Ignoring Three Overlooked Cancer Symptoms
Swallow recently shared that she missed three cancer symptoms of stage four cancer, after merely dismissing them as signs of stress and exhaustion. Initially, she thought her nocturnal sweats, itchy legs, and chronic fatigue were due to the demands of everyday life. However, that all changed when she went to visit her doctor. “I would itch until I broke the skin which would keep me up all night. I went to the doctor and they thought it could be stress, allergies, or urticaria but no cream or lifestyle change would make it go”, she said.
She Thought She Had Simply Overworked Herself
Swallow continued to experience night sweats, weight loss, exhaustion, and a constant barrage of colds and flu, mistaking her symptoms for simply being overworked. Swallow’s alarming cancer diagnosis was not revealed until after more tests. “Honestly, it took the doctor telling me ‘you have stage 4 Hodgkin lymphoma’ for me to realize how serious it was”, said Georgie Swallow with surprise.
A Frightening Discovery
After being absent from work for nearly two weeks due to an intense flu, she returned to the office and noticed a peach-sized lump on the side of her neck while sitting at her desk. Rather naively, even then, she wasn’t too frightened because she never imagined there would be something terrible wrong with her. At first, she just thought she was “wasting everyone’s time” with what she assumed were just minor symptoms. However, she soon discovered how deceptively hidden lymphoma could be. “This is why lymphoma is diagnosed so late: You can brush the symptoms off as easily as other things”, she stated reflectively.
Intensive Treatments Followed
Her treatment was aggressive because she was at stage four. During her first diagnosis, she received four different forms of chemotherapy every two weeks. This left her weak and caused several side effects. She lost her weight, hair, and strength. However, she found joy in decorating her head with sparkles and filling the days she had strength with activities that brought her joy. For Swallow, the second diagnosis was far more challenging than the first. “My body was already exhausted so the weekly chemo took its toll and then I had a stem cell transplant”, she said.
Touch and Go
She almost died during the transplant, which she has also been dealing with. However, it has additionally provided her with an awesome new perspective on life. She also went into menopause at the age of 28 after receiving the stem cell transplant. Georgie found it difficult to accept early menopause, describing it as “being hit by a bus”. Cancer already robs you of so many things and the fact that she had been robbed of her fertility really saddened Georgie. It is difficult to deal with menopause at a normal age, so he found it difficult to find other people her age who could relate to her situation.
No One To Relate To Her Situation
Since she was only 28 years old, she soon realized that none of her friends really understood her unique situation. “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.”, she lamented. Now 32 years of age, she is keen to spread the word to other young women going through the same thing that she had to endure. While there are 42 known symptoms of menopause, most people still just talk about losing their period and hot flashes. For her, though, the most important aspect was how it affected her mental health.
The Bottom Line on Cancer Symptoms and Menopause
Georgie has spoken to many women who thought they were experiencing a mental breakdown. This was simply due to the fact that they did not know the symptoms of a menopause. What’s worse is that your mood changes and you experience these very low moments and have no idea what is going on inside your body. The moment you identify what’s actually going on, the whole experience becomes less stressful. If you are unsure of your symptoms, book an appointment with your GP.
Read More: This Cancer Symptom Can Be Spotted First Thing In The Morning