Healthy 22-Year-Old Misdiagnosed With Back Pain Before Hodgkin Lymphoma Diagnosis

A young woman in England was misattributed symptoms to anemia and work stress before Hodgkin lymphoma was diagnosed.

Healthy 22-Year-Old Misdiagnosed With Back Pain Before Hodgkin Lymphoma Diagnosis

Lara Muller, a 22-year-old from Guildford in Surrey, began experiencing fatigue and neck and back pain in December 2024. Doctors initially linked the tiredness to anemia and told her back pain came from sitting at a new office job, a diagnosis Muller says did not fit her worsening symptoms.

After coughing up blood in March, an emergency X-ray and a CT scan revealed a chest mass. She was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in June and has since undergone keyhole surgery and chemotherapy. Muller has shared her journey on TikTok to warn others that symptoms can be overlooked and to encourage persistence when something feels wrong.

Medical misdiagnosis can delay crucial care, especially when symptoms resemble common, less serious conditions. This case shows how anchoring on one explanation—anemia or work stress—can slow the pursuit of imaging and a correct diagnosis. It also highlights the growing role of patient voices online in pushing clinicians to recheck persistent symptoms.

The broader takeaway is clear: Hodgkin lymphoma can present with non-specific signs in young adults. A careful, patient-centered approach that revisits symptoms and considers serious diseases can shorten diagnosis time and improve outcomes, while avoiding unnecessary testing when symptoms do not fit.

Highlights

Health care should balance caution with urgency for those who speak up.