I thought I was just stressed at work but an aggressive cancer was silently spreading through my body
A TEACHER was diagnosed with aggressive cancer after assuming a subtle symptom was caused by the stress of her job.
But when Ashlyn Breanne, 24, finally went to the doctor with a lump in her neck, she was horrified to find out that the disease had been silently spreading through her body “for a while”.
She underwent chemotherapy to fight the cancer and hopes to help others recognise the subtle signs that, on their own, didn’t raise red flags.
Ashlyn, from Newport News, in Virginia, says: “I thought I was just overworked or a bit run down.”
“I never could have imagined cancer.”
The teacher was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma – an uncommon cancer that develops in the lymphatic system, a network of vessels and glands spread throughout your body that’s part of the immune system.
Around 2,100 people are diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in the UK each year.
It mostly affects those between the ages of 20 and 40 and over the age of 75.
The first subtle signs of Ashlyn’s cancer was fatigue, a common problem that many people struggle with daily.
“I felt tired all the time,” she explains, describing it as a deep, unshakeable exhaustion she initially dismissed as stress.
Alongside the fatigue, Ashlyn began experiencing severe neck and shoulder pain, a symptom that quickly became a constant in her daily life.
“I’d get sharp pains in my neck and shoulders, almost like I’d pulled a muscle or something,” she says.
She began to lose her appetite, often feeling sick after eating.
“Food just stopped appealing to me,” she says.
The 24-year-old was also racked by night sweats that left her drenched and shivering.
Despite the growing list of symptoms, she pushed on with work, school, and teaching full-time – until a persistent lump in her neck finally sent her to the doctor.
“When I first noticed the lump, I thought I just slept wrong,” Ashlyn explains.
“But it came back, the pain intensified, and that’s when I decided to go to my doctor.”
Her doctors acted quickly, sending her to specialists and rushing through tests.
But she was soon faced with a terrifying reality: the cancer had spread to her chest and lungs.
“The doctors explained my cancer had been growing for a while,” Ashlyn says.
Starting treatment was daunting but Ashlyn soon began seeing progress from.
The teacher says: “The first round of chemotherapy made a huge difference—the lumps disappeared, and the pain was gone.
“Now I’m dealing with the side effects.”
She describes chemo as a double-edged sword.
Cancer doesn’t care about age. I wish I’d known that sooner
Ashlyn Breanne
“I felt like I was poisoning my body. The side effects were brutal—constant nausea and hair loss. But I knew it was my best chance.”
Months of gruelling treatment put Ashlyn’s resilience to the test.
“There were days I wanted to give up,” she admits.
But with her family, friends, and even strangers rallying around her, she found strength to continue.
“I couldn’t have done it without them.”
‘Don’t ignore your body’
Ashlyn had five symptoms before she was diagnosed – fatigue, pain, a lack of appetite, night sweats and finally the lump in her neck – and she has an urgent message for anyone with similar problems.
“Don’t ignore your body. If something feels off, don’t brush it aside. I know it’s easy to think, ‘Oh, it’s just stress,’ but sometimes, there’s more going on.”
Early detection, she stresses, is crucial.
“Cancer doesn’t care about age. I wish I’d known that sooner.”
As she continues her recovery, Ashlyn is determined to raise awareness about Hodgkin lymphoma.
“I don’t want anyone else to go through what I did. It will have been worth it if my story helps even one person catch their illness early.”
Ashlyn’s experience has given her a new purpose.
“We think we’re invincible, especially when we’re young,” she says, “but our bodies can break down. It’s up to us to catch the signs.”
What are the signs of lymphoma?
LYMPHOMA is a term for cancer that starts in the lymph system - a network of vessels and glands that spans your body.
There are two main kinds of lymphoma – Hodgkin Lymphoma and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.
Lymphoma can cause many different symptoms, depending on which type of lymphoma it is and where it develops in the body.
The most typical signs are:
- Swollen lymph nodes, such as in the neck, armpit or groin area
- Night sweats
- Extreme tiredness
- Itching
- Unexplained weight loss
- Fever
- Excessive bleeding, such as nosebleeds, heavy periods and spots of blood under the skin
Other signs of lymphoma in a more localised area include:
- Swelling of the stomach, loss of appetite and other abdominal symptoms
- Coughing, shortness of breath, or chest pain
Now, sharing her journey on TikTok, Ashlyn stays hopeful and focuses on each new day.
“It’s been a long, hard road, and I’m still healing. But I’m grateful. This experience taught me so much—I no longer take anything for granted.”
As she looks forward, Ashlyn wants to inspire others to be proactive about their health.
“If you feel something’s wrong, don’t let anyone dismiss you. Your health is worth fighting for.
“Getting cancer at a young age gives you a huge perspective on life.
“It taught me that life isn’t that serious. You should live every day to the fullest.
“There are going to be hard days, and there are going to be good days when you’re dealing with cancer, but if one positive thing comes out of it, it’s learning how to live life to the fullest and cherish the good things—being with family and friends and letting go of everyday anxieties.”
I just wanted relief from the itching - but it turned out to be cancer
By Christine Jennings, Production Editor
I couldn’t understand what was happening to me when I started itching all over.
I was constantly scratching and even had my husband attack my feet – which I hate being touched – with a hairbrush.
Friends and family tried giving me advice, such as “change your washing powder” or “use body cream”.
Deep inside I knew these wouldn’t help – but I didn’t know what would.
After two months of agonising itching, in which it didn’t even occur to me to seek medical help, I was sitting at my desk at work when I just brushed my hand against my neck and shoulder.
Was that a lump?
I rushed to the ladies but couldn’t see anything, so I moved my hand over the place again.
I could definitely feel something – and when I pushed my shoulders back, I could see a swelling.
Probably swollen glands, I thought.
With the constant itching and now a lump, I finally decided to head to the doctors.
Once there, I told my GP about the constant itching.
New cat, she asked?
Yes, but I’m sure it’s not that.
Have you changed your washing powder?
No.
As I felt her interest waning, I blurted out: “Oh and I’ve found what I think is a lump on my neck.”
Straight away I could see a change in her, and within a week I was in hospital having scans and blood tests – only to be told it was lymphoma.
I’d never even heard of it and certainly didn’t know it was cancer.
Within days I was at hospital for my first chemotherapy – and was so excited that I would finally get relief from my itching.
I had no idea of the gruelling effects rounds of chemo would have in the months ahead.
Thankfully, the itching did stop and after six months of chemo for Hodgkin’s lymphoma, plus two more additional months of treatment, I was given the all-clear.
Now, over twenty years have passed and I’m still cancer-free – but the tiniest of itches can make me anxious
My advice to anyone with the same symptoms is to see your GP straight away.
And be persistent. My GP’s swift actions saved my life.