At 26, Sumbul Ari, an Australian from Cairns, was leading a normal life when a strange symptom set in: uncontrollable itching. Night after night, they become so intense that they prevent him from sleeping. She scratched herself until she hurt, without ever finding relief for 7 months.
A story that begins with a banal symptom
The first diagnoses are intended to be reassuring: dry skin, eczema, even scabies. Nothing insurmountable a priori. But the prescribed treatments – moisturizing creams, antihistamines – remain ineffective.
The weeks pass, the itching remains, and other signals appear: persistent fatigue, night sweats, loss of appetite.
Then one day, almost by chance, she discovered a lump on the back of her neck. This detail changes everything.
Hodgkin lymphoma: a cancer of the lymphatic system
Convinced that something more serious is at stake, she insists on taking exams. An ultrasound, then a CT scan and finally a biopsy will confirm the diagnosis: Hodgkin lymphoma.
Hodgkin lymphoma is a specific form of cancer that affects the lymphatic system, a key element of our immunity. It develops from lymphocytes, cells responsible for defending the body. This cancer remains rare, but it has an important particularity: it often affects young adults, particularly between 20 and 30 years old.
In the majority of cases, it manifests itself by the appearance of swollen lymph nodes, these small “balls” that can be felt in the neck, armpits or groin.
But contrary to what we imagine, it does not always cause pain. This is what sometimes makes it difficult to identify.
Good news, however: if properly managed, this cancer now has an excellent prognosis, with cure rates exceeding 90% thanks to chemotherapy, sometimes combined with radiotherapy.
Sometimes surprising symptoms
The story of this young woman illustrates an essential point: certain symptoms can seem harmless, even misleading.
Possible signs of Hodgkin lymphoma include:
- Swollen, painless lymph nodes;
- Persistent fatigue;
- Severe night sweats;
- Unexplained weight loss;
- Fever;
- And, more surprisingly, intense itching.
This itching, called pruritus, can appear long before other symptoms. They are sometimes diffuse, resistant to traditional treatments and often more marked at night.
Itching: when should you worry?
In the majority of situations, the itching is benign: dry skin, allergic reaction, irritation. A moisturizer or avoiding certain products is usually enough to calm them down.
As doctor Dr Gérald Kierzek reminds us, it is advisable to adopt simple actions: moisturize the skin, avoid irritating products, protect your hands during household chores.
But certain signals should alert you and push you to consult. This is the case if the itching:
- Persistent over time;
- Become intense, especially at night;
- Resistant to usual treatments;
- Or are accompanied by other symptoms (fatigue, fever, weight loss, lymph nodes).
“Additional examinations, such as a blood test or more in-depth tests, may then be necessary to identify an underlying cause” warns our expert.
Listen to your body, even when everything seems “normal”
Sumbul Ari’s journey reminds us of one fundamental thing: a persistent symptom should never be ignored.
For seven months, she lived with this itching without a clear answer. Today, after starting treatment, she says she is relieved to have finally been heard. His message is simple but crucial: when something does not seem normal, you must insist, ask questions, request examinations.
Because sometimes, what we think is trivial can reveal much more. And it’s really a matter of “scratching” a little more to find the real cause of all this.