Georgie Swallow, a London-based content producer, is raising awareness about Hodgkin lymphoma by sharing her experience with overlooked symptoms. Diagnosed at 28, she initially dismissed her signs as stress, believing a doctor visit was “wasting everyone’s time.”

Her first warning sign was a lump in her neck, but the most persistent symptoms were “itchy legs, nocturnal sweats, and general fatigue.” She recalled, “I would itch until I broke the skin… no cream or lifestyle change would make it go.” Despite ongoing weight loss, exhaustion, and frequent illnesses, she assumed she was simply overworked.

Now 32, Georgie emphasizes that symptoms can be mild and easily dismissed, leading to late-stage diagnoses. “Cancer can take quite a lot away from you,” she said, but one of the hardest parts was early menopause. “Losing my fertility before I’d had a chance to have children was difficult.”

She described menopause at 28 as “being hit by a bus” and struggled with the lack of peers who could relate. “None of my friends understood what I was going through… it’s hard to comfort and relate to something you don’t understand.”