Living with Lymphoma - real experiences
You may recognise some of your own questions or concerns in their stories. While everyone's experience is different, hearing from people who have been through something similar can sometimes help you feel less alone.
Getting a diagnosis
Leslie, diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma
"I smiled when I finally got the cancer diagnosis, which might seem strange, but at least now I knew what was wrong. It was scary not knowing what was wrong with me."
Toby, diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma
"I had a huge swollen neck on one side and decided I would see my GP who, after initially sending me home, called me up and booked me in to have a biopsy."
Christina, diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma
"When you are diagnosed with cancer, there are so many thoughts, fears, worries and uncertainties. You have to find a way to cope with it. My method of dealing with it has been to write a blog chronicling in detail my story."
More information about lymphoma
The 2 main types are Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).
- Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) - Learn more about the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of Hodgkin lymphoma.
- Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) - Learn more about the different types of NHL, how it is diagnosed and treatments for NHL.
If you are worried about symptoms
The most common symptom of lymphoma is a painless swelling or lump in the neck, armpit or groin. This is caused by lymphoma cells building up in the lymph nodes, which makes them bigger.
There are different causes of swollen lymph nodes. But if you notice a painless, swollen lymph node, it is important to get it checked by your GP.
More stories like this
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Stories 17 Jul 2023Yamour was diagnosed in 2016 with stage 4 non-Hodgkin lymphoma when she was aged 21. Her worries about symptoms were dismissed at first by local health services until she was eventually diagnosed....
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Stories 01 May 2025LJ was 19 when he put his university plans on hold to undergo aggressive chemotherapy treatment for leukaemia. He’s now pursuing his creative ambitions and encouraging other men to use the support...
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Stories 30 Oct 2025Faaria’s experience with her Macmillan nurse and HOPE programme made her want to ‘give something back’ and help other people. She speaks passionately about barriers to care in terms of ethnicity. She...
