Hannah Bird, 24, spent six months going to the hospital three to four times a week in Bristol, England. She suffered from night sweats, rashes and a continuous cough, but was constantly dismissed by doctors.
In March 2022, Hannah began experiencing severe chest and back pain and contracted pneumonia. She had also been losing weight without dieting. Upon changing doctors, she had an x-ray to assess the condition of her lungs and found out that she had non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (NHL)
According to National Cancer Instituter, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) is a type of cancer that originates in the cells of the lymphatic system and spreads in an uncontrolled manner. The tumor can start anywhere in the body, as lymphatic tissue is found throughout the body.
NHL mainly affects the immune system and the main symptoms are:
- Enlarged lymph nodes in the neck, armpit and groin;
- Excessive night sweats;
- Fever;
- Itchy skin;
- Weight loss with no apparent cause.
One month after the diagnosis, when performing a scan of exams, the doctors discovered that the tumor occupied 3/4 of the organ and the NHL had metastasized.
Innovative treatment
Luckily, Hannah was accepted into a clinical trial at the hospital, where she was treated with immunotherapy plus chemotherapy. Immunotherapy helps the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells.
Halfway through the treatment, Hannah’s cancer had shrunk by 80%, and in September 2022, she finished therapy after the lymphoma had disappeared.
Now, the young woman has CT scans every three months to check for signs of NHL again.
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