Georgie Swallow, a London-based content producer, is raising awareness about Hodgkin lymphoma after being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer at just 28.

Hodgkin lymphoma is a cancer that affects the lymphatic system, a key part of the body’s immune defenses. Georgie says she was naïve to believe nothing serious could happen to her, even after noticing a lump on the side of her neck—one of the first signs she chose to ignore.

Now 32, Georgie says the illness deeply affected both her mental and physical well-being. Before her diagnosis, three symptoms caused her the most distress: severely itchy legs, night sweats, and constant fatigue.

“I would itch until I broke the skin, which kept me awake all night,” she explained. “Doctors initially thought it was stress, allergies, or urticaria. No creams or lifestyle changes helped.”

During this time, Georgie was also losing weight, experiencing frequent night sweats, feeling persistently exhausted, and catching repeated colds and flus. She assumed she was simply overworked and stressed, believing a doctor’s visit would be “a waste of everyone’s time.”

She later learned that these symptoms are often mild and easily dismissed, which is why Hodgkin lymphoma is frequently diagnosed at a later stage.

Following treatment, Georgie was forced into early menopause, losing her fertility before having the chance to start a family. She described the experience as “being hit by a bus.”

“Cancer can take a lot away from you,” she said, “but losing my fertility before I’d had children was incredibly difficult—especially at 28, when none of my friends could relate to what I was going through.”

Through sharing her story, Georgie hopes to encourage others—especially young people—not to ignore persistent or unusual symptoms and to trust their instincts when something feels wrong.