Penny Reynolds, an influencer installed in the United Kingdom, did not expect to have to face a difficult health test at the dawn of the thirties. However, she testifies today on the networks of her fight against formidable and fatal blood cancer if he is not taken care of in time.
Unusual fatigue by walking his dogs
It all starts with abnormal fatigue, which Penny attributes to stress and lack of sleep. After all, she is a very active young woman. But as soon as she walks her two dogs, she is quickly out of breath. Strange, but Penny does not worry … at the start.
“I thought I was tired like any normal adult” she explains on her Tiktok account.
But its general condition deteriorates, despite its resumption of sport and a more appropriate pace. “”For no apparent reason, I realized that I could not breathe ” she says today.
The signs then accumulate: frequent infections, rash all over the body diagnosed as a rosy pityriasis, and even nail pain. Then one morning, an important swelling of the neck also appears. Penny consults immediately. There followed radiography, ultrasound, scanner and blood test. The verdict falls quickly: it suffers from Hodgkin lymphoma, cancer of the lymphatic system.
Rare but healing cancer: what do we know about Hodgkin’s lymphoma?
Hodgkin lymphoma is cancer that affects cells in the immune system. It is characterized by an abnormal proliferation of certain white blood cells (B lymphocytes), which form tumors in the lymph nodes.
According to the public health data France, 2,127 new cases were identified in 2018, including 1,240 in men and 887 in women. Cancer mainly affects 15-30 year olds and over 65s.
“It is a rare cancer but of good prognosis“said Dr. Julien Lenglet, hematologist at Antony’s private hospital in a previous article. “It is generally manifested by one or more balls, often in the upper part of the body: neck, armpits or thorax.”
Symptoms can also include:
- Intense night sweats;
- Rapid weight loss;
- A lack of appetite;
- Generalized itching, without dermatological cause;
- Prolonged fatigue.
In some cases, the swollen nodes can compress the neighboring organs, causing respiratory discomfort or persistent cough, according to the Gustave Roussy Institute.
Diagnosis, treatment and follow -up: what to know
The diagnosis is based on a biopsy of suspicious nodes. Once the disease is confirmed, an extension assessment (PET-SCAN) makes it possible to assess its spread.
“The treatment then depends on the extent of cancer”explains Dr. Lenglet. “”It generally consists of chemotherapy, sometimes coupled with radiotherapy. “
In young patients, preservation of fertility is also to be taken into account. In some more severe cases, an autogreffe of bone marrow is envisaged. Despite everything, the prognosis remains excellent: more than 90 % of patients heal.
A close follow -up is set up: every six months the first year, then once a year. After five years without relapse, the patient is considered to be healed.
Document your daily life to alert
Since then, the influencer Penny has used her Tiktok page to also raise awareness about blood cancer. Between two posts on her style, the young woman who currently follows chemotherapy, also documents her fight and her daily life in the face of this still unknown disease. And advises everyone to listen to each other. “”My body clearly shouted to me: ‘Note, Penny, something is happening’“, Specifies the thirties quoted by Surrey Live. If you notice an abnormal sign or fatigue, and who persists, consult your doctor.