At 28, Georgie Swallow was diagnosed with stage 4 Hodgkin lymphoma after ignoring three symptoms she assumed were caused by stress. “I would itch until I broke the skin… but no cream or lifestyle change would make it go,” she recalled. She also experienced night sweats and extreme fatigue but brushed them off as overwork.

Even when she spotted a lump on her neck, she didn’t panic. “I thought I was wasting everyone’s time.” Only after extensive testing did the doctor say, “You have stage 4 Hodgkin lymphoma,” which left her stunned. She later added, “This is why lymphoma is diagnosed so late.”

Treatment was aggressive: four types of chemo and, later, a stem cell transplant. “My body was already exhausted,” Georgie said. The transplant nearly killed her and triggered early menopause. “It was like being hit by a bus,” she shared, mourning the loss of fertility and finding few her age who could relate.

Now 32, she raises awareness about cancer and menopause in young women. “None of my friends understood what I was going through,” she said. Many mistake menopause symptoms for a breakdown. “Once you know what’s going on, it’s less stressful.” Her advice: trust your body and see a doctor.