Young patient misdiagnosed delays Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis

Lara Muller, a 22-year-old from Guildford, says doctors blamed her back pain on a new office job and overlooked cancer symptoms, delaying Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis by months.

Young patient misdiagnosed delays Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis

In December 2024 Lara Muller began to feel a sore neck and back along with a chest infection. The fitness enthusiast visited the GP, where blood tests pointed to anaemia and doctors attributed her back pain to sitting at a desk in a new job. She kept insisting something was wrong and returned several times as fatigue and dizziness worsened. Iron tablets were increased and the symptoms were framed as anaemia, rather than a possible cancer.
It wasn’t until March, when she coughed up blood, that doctors ordered imaging. An X-ray and CT scan revealed a mass on her chest, and after keyhole surgery in June 2025 Lara was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma. She has since completed two rounds of chemotherapy and has one cycle left. Now she is speaking out to urge others to seek second or third opinions when something feels off and persistent.

This case highlights how a young patient can be dismissed when symptoms fit a common pattern, especially in a busy primary care setting. A persistent fatigue, back pain, and chest infections should prompt a careful review rather than a quick attribution to anaemia or job-related strain. The delay matters because Hodgkin lymphoma is treatable when caught early, and early imaging can change a life trajectory.
It also raises questions about how health systems support patients who push for answers. Encouraging second opinions is important, but it can place a burden on individuals who are already unwell. The story points to a broader need for clearer referral pathways and better awareness of cancer signs in young adults, so delays don’t become the norm.

Highlights

Healthcare systems must listen when patients push for answers.