News
Woman’s Itchy Skin That She Thought Was Caused By Washing Powder Was Actually Cancer
She is now facing six months of two-weekly chemotherapy cycles.
April Grierson had chronic itching in June 2021 and, at the time, believed her washing powder caused it. But then, she swapped brands yet noticed no difference in her symptoms. The 20-Year-Old even had to give up her dog for two weeks, just in case she was allergic.
Even after this, there were no changes. The makeup artist visited her GP and was told she had scabies.
After several telephone consultations with a GP, April reveals she was given creams and tablets to treat scabies. Months later, a lump surfaced on her neck; doctors referred her to the hospital only to find out she had cancer. In November 2021, she has diagnosed with blood cancer Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
Sharing her ordeal on TikTok, April broke down her diagnosis timeline and stated: “I had this sense that something was wrong.”
@aprilgrierson2 My diagnosis timeline… #cancerdiagnosis #KindAndFree #hodgkinslymphoma #cancer #chemotherapy #cancerawareness #fyp #viral #lymphoma traitor – Olivia Rodrigo
She added: “I’d even told my mum I thought I had cancer but she put that down to me feeling so anxious. Turns out I was right and I’m so glad I kept going back to the doctors. I knew my own body. At first, I was trying to work out what I was allergic to. My skin itched day and night from my head to my feet. I was tearing at my skin.”
“I couldn’t sleep, and I was making myself bleed; I was red raw.” I knew it couldn’t be scabies as it’s highly contagious, and my boyfriend hadn’t caught it.”
“I couldn’t get a face-to-face appointment because of COVID, so I kept sending more pictures, but the doctors said I had no rash or distinctive skin marks for them to make a diagnosis. In October I found a lump in my neck that grew quickly. Within three weeks I had an appointment at a specialist head and neck center.”
“I was diagnosed with cancer that day after blood tests, CT scans and a biopsy showed I had blood cancer and it was tumor on my neck.”
At the time, April’s BF, now fiancé Sean O’Flaherty had been waiting in the car during April’s four-hour appointment but was allowed inside when she was told the news. Further tests revealed April has Stage 2 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Currently, she faces six months of two-weekly chemotherapy cycles to kill cancer that has spread from a lymph node in her neck to her chest and around her windpipe.
Before starting chemo, April suffered a second tragedy. She underwent egg retrieval in case her future fertility was affected, and she suffered complications.
The fertility drugs used caused ovarian hyperstimulation Syndrome, making her ovaries swell and leak fluid into her body. April was in the hospital for two weeks with fluid on her lungs, and doctors were luckily able to retrieve seven eggs and four embryos. However, she hopes her story will help others and encourage them to trust their instincts.
@aprilgrierson2 Reply to @rugby_vids69 My OHSS story ! #OHSS #hodgkinslymphomaawareness #cancerfighter #chemotherapy #fyp #viral #storytime ♬ Stories 2 – Danilo Stankovic
