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Alcohol Pain Sparks Rare Cancer Diagnosis
22 Jan
Summary
- A rare reaction to wine led to a blood cancer diagnosis.
- Symptoms included neck pain, fatigue, and itchy skin.
- Stage 2 Hodgkin lymphoma was diagnosed in October 2025.
A 28-year-old woman from Sunderland, England, discovered she had blood cancer after experiencing a peculiar reaction to alcohol. Hollie Thursby began noticing neck pain when drinking wine shortly after giving birth to her son in December 2024. She also reported significant fatigue and intensely itchy skin, which she initially attributed to being a new mother.
Her symptoms prompted a doctor's visit in January 2025, but her concerns were dismissed as hormonal. Months later, after discovering a lump on her neck, she underwent tests. In October 2025, Thursby received the life-altering diagnosis of stage 2 Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of blood cancer. She commenced chemotherapy in November 2025 to combat the disease.
Thursby expressed deep concern about leaving her young children, particularly given her own childhood experience of losing a mother. Despite the devastating news, she is focused on her treatment and cherishes the support of her family, striving to get better for her sons. She views her treatment plan as a crucial step forward.
