What is Hodgkin’s lymphoma? Melbourne woman battling cancer after thinking she had glandular fever

A young Aussie has revealed how doctors thought she had mononucleosis after being ‘sick for months’ – but she was actually suffering from something much more serious.

Kate Proctor-Parker was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in January at just 19 years old after five months of illness, seeing multiple doctors and being put on a litany of medications.

The now 20-year-old suspected something was ‘seriously wrong’ after noticing a lump on her neck and urged GPs to refer her to a specialist.

After struggling to get a diagnosis, Kate was surprisingly “relieved” when a biopsy revealed she had stage three cancer, as her concerns were validated and there was a clear treatment plan.

She said the ordeal taught her the importance of “trusting your gut” and standing up for yourself when your fears are dismissed by doctors.

You know your own body best. If you’re not happy with how you’re being treated by a medical professional, don’t be afraid to get a second opinion,” she told FEMAIL.

In September 2022, Kate noticed a lump had formed on her neck, but felt otherwise healthy.

Just a few weeks later, her health began to deteriorate.

‘There were ten days when I couldn’t keep any food down, I had to throw up everything. In a month and a half I lost ten kilos,” said Kate.

‘I was sweating profusely. This one little bump on my neck had exploded and I had bumps all over my collarbone and under my armpits.”

A blood test showed she had mononucleosis, so doctors attributed all of her symptoms to it and prescribed her antibiotics, but she didn’t get better.

Her illness became so bad that she flew from Canberra, where she studied economics at the Australian National University, to her home city of Melbourne. being with family.

There she saw another GP who prescribed her more antibiotics for a respiratory infection, which she said helped a little, but she continued to struggle with illness.

“I’m not usually a hypochondriac, but my aunt, who I’d never met but heard a lot about, died of lymphoma, so it’s something I was aware of,” she said.

“When I first got sick in Canberra, I called my mum and said, ‘You’re going to think I’m hysterical, but I think there’s something seriously wrong with me.'”

Because of her gut feeling, Kate insisted that she be referred to a specialist, which her doctor “reluctantly” did.

“After being referred to the specialist, I tried to register and couldn’t get in for a month,” she recalls.

“Then I saw a second GP and she called the specialist for me on the dot and got me booked in for the next day.”

Kate had multiple biopsies that ultimately confirmed she had stage three Hodgkin lymphoma, a cancer of the lymphatic system that thankfully has an 80 percent survival rate.

“It had been five months since I was incredibly sick and on so many antibiotics and steroids that I was relieved when I was finally diagnosed,” she said.

“At this point we were trying to figure out what was wrong with me and if it wasn’t cancer it could be something they weren’t sure how to treat.

“At least when I knew it was cancer, I knew there were ways forward, steps that needed to be taken to make me well again.”

She had to undergo two rounds of intensive chemotherapy and is now almost done with her four rounds of ABVD, a combination chemotherapy used to treat Hodgkin lymphoma.

Before starting treatment, Kate also underwent IVF to freeze her eggs because the chemotherapy could affect her fertility.

Chemo is not an easy road for anyone; However, Kate had a particularly rough time after developing blood infections, contracting Covid and becoming septic.

‘The first round of chemotherapy made me very ill. I was there three days a week at first and each time my white blood cells plummeted to absolute zero and my red blood cells dropped extremely low as well,” she said.

Kate was hospitalized twice for blood infections.

“I had to have my PICC line removed, a peripheral central catheter inserted, and that’s how I got my chemo.”

Over Easter, Kate ended up in hospital again after contracting Covid and becoming septic, so the doctors finally had to make the decision to change the type of chemo that was making her so sick.

She’s endured more than most 20-year-olds, but she’s been lucky to have her mother’s unwavering support by her side.

My mother goes everywhere with her. When I was first admitted to hospital, she stayed overnight even though I was in the adult ward,’ Kate laughed.

“Unfortunately I was in ICU the last time, so she had to be away from me, but my mother has been through it all and my father has been a great support as well. Around Easter he helped me raise money for the world’s best shave.’

Kate has also found solace on social media, posting details of her journey on TikTok and connecting with other young Aussies who have had or are currently battling cancer.

“The first thing I did when I was diagnosed was jump on TikTok to see what other people’s lives were like when they’re living with cancer,” she said.

“While I have great support from family and friends, it can be hard to describe exactly what you’re feeling if they haven’t been through it themselves, so talking to other people who’ve actually gone through the same treatment is really, really good.”

At her young age, Kate has already faced her own mortality, but says it has taught her to appreciate life more.

“This last trip where I was in the hospital and had become septic, it sounds so cheesy, but you really see how fragile your life is, so I’ve had a new outlook on life ever since,” she said.

“Every day that I’m not in the hospital, I’m so grateful to just walk around and have the energy I have now.”

With only one and a half rounds of chemo to go, Kate has to undergo tests and scans to see if the treatment has worked, but she feels hopeful and plans for her future.