Publish date: 28 September 2022
A Liverpool woman has documented her cancer treatment on social media – and wants to raise awareness of blood cancer.
April Grierson has spoken about her experience on the social media platform TikTok and was only 20 years old when she was diagnosed.
April has Hodgkin Lymphoma, a type of blood cancer that affects your lymph nodes and lymphatic system, and has been treated for it since November last year.
She first noticed something was wrong when she began suffering from night sweats and increasingly itchy skin and, after being treated for suspected scabies, noticed a lump on her neck.
April, who has told her story during Blood Cancer Awareness Month, said: “As soon as I noticed the lump on my neck and that it was growing, I knew that my other symptoms were more than initially thought.”
There are many types of blood cancer, including Leukaemia, Lymphoma and Myeloma – and one in 19 people will be diagnosed with blood cancer at some point in their lives.
Dr Michael Gregory, Regional Medical Director of NHS England – North West, said: “Being aware of the signs and symptoms of blood cancer, and being diagnosed early can make all the difference.
“If you have persistent symptoms, including breathlessness, a fever, tiredness, unexplained bruising, swollen lymph nodes or night sweats, it’s so important that you see your GP as soon as possible.
“It will probably be nothing to worry about, but if it is blood cancer, catching it early increases the chance of survival.”
For more on this story, see: https://www.england.nhs.uk/north-west/2022/09/27/i-knew-my-own-strength-and-knew-i-could-get-through-it-cancer-survivor-and-tik-tok-star-from-liverpool-raises-awareness-of-blood-cancer/