Young Woman Told She Had Tonsil Infection. Turns Out to Be Cancer. How to Advocate For Yourself

Going back and forth to the doctors for blood tests and needle biopsies in my neck, Reid said on her TikTok channel.

Finally having an operation for a biopsy done in March 2023 hoping it was nothing, Reid said but tests confirmed she had stage 2 Hodgkins lymphoma.

Lymphoma is a cancer of your immune system. It starts in a specific kind of white blood cell called the lymphocyte. These cells are part of the body’s lymphatic system which is a network of vessels and nodes that collect fluid, waste, and germs like bacteria and viruses. This system drains excess fluid and waste from your tissues and drains them into your bloodstream. It also produces disease-fighting white blood cells that defend your body against infections.

The two main categories of lymphomas are non-Hodgkin – which is far more common and classical Hodgkin lymphoma. There are many types of non-hodgkin lymphoma.

Hodgkin lymphoma has distinctive, giant cells called Reed-Sternberg cells. The presence of these cells, which can be seen under a microscope, will help your doctor determine which of the two lymphoma types you have. Fortunately, Hodgkin lymphoma is highly curable with approximately an 80% cure rate according to the National Cancer Institute.

 

WATCH: Dr. Elise Chong explains that there are many different types of lymphoma.

Common symptoms of Hodgkin lymphoma may include unexplained weight loss, fevers, night sweats, and painless swelling of lymph nodes in the neck, armpits, or groin. Reid's symptoms were most noticeably a swollen lymph node in her neck.

Before Reid began chemotherapy in May 2023, she bravely underwent a procedure to have her eggs frozen and removed. This emotional decision is one many women diagnosed with cancer often confront.

For these younger women, if they haven’t completed their families yet, preserving their fertility may be a priority. "They want to know if they’ll ever be able to have a baby, Barbara Dehn, a nurse practitioner at El Camino Women’s Medical Group in the San Francisco Bay Area, previously told SurvivorNet.

 

WATCH: Fertility and cancer.

Women should discuss fertility-sparing options with their cancer specialists before treatment. If surgery this extensive is medically necessary, "women can decide before their surgery to freeze their eggs so that they can have a baby later on," says Dehn.

Reid said in a recent video post, she's completed her first cycle of chemotherapy as she worked toward remission. In July, she shared a video that shows her dancing with her friend celebrating her cancer journey thus far.

@chloereid89 @ wherever  #fyp #fypage #hodgkinslymphoma #bestie #cancer ♬ Wherever i go hannah montana forever – Slept on Songz

Dancing in the rain to celebrate me finishing chemotherapy and beating cancer, a resilient Reid happily wrote in a caption.

Advocating for Your Health

Patients advocating for their health can lead to better patient outcomes. This is especially important when you find your doctor has misdiagnosed your symptoms.

 

WATCH: Advocating for your health.

A component of advocating for yourself in healthcare includes going back to the doctor multiple times and even getting multiple opinions.

Dr. Steven Rosenberg is the National Cancer Institute Chief of Surgery, and he previously told SurvivorNet about the advantages of getting input from multiple doctors.

WATCH: The value of multiple opinions.

"If I had any advice for you following a cancer diagnosis, it would be, first, to seek out multiple opinions as to the best care. Because finding a doctor who is up to the latest of information is important," Dr. Rosenberg said.

Questions for Your Doctor

If you find yourself experiencing unusual symptoms such as a lingering cough or a part of your body that's painful to touch, these are things you should bring to your doctor's attention.

Here are some takeaways to think about when talking to your doctor.

• Are you experiencing pain or fever that won't go away?
• Are you gaining or losing weight unexplainable?
• Have you discovered any bumps, spots on your skin, or lumps on parts of your body that cannot be explained?
• Are you struggling to get a good night's rest?
• Are you noticing changes in your bathroom habits such as blood in your urine or stool?

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

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