A man ignored five different symptoms for years before he decided to go to hospital, where, after testing, he was told he had stage 4 cancer. Now he’s urging others to get their symptoms checked
When one man started to experience symptoms, which were seemingly unconnected, he couldn’t have imagined he would go on to be diagnosed with stage 4 non-Hodgkin lymphoma at the age of 21. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, also known as cancer of the lymphatic system, is a type of blood cancer which affects white blood cells.
It usually starts in the lymph nodes, or other parts of the lymphatic system, which is a system of thin tubes and lymph nodes that run through the body, and plays an important part in fighting bacteria and other infections. The NHS states: “In non-Hodgkin lymphoma, the affected lymphocytes start to multiply in an abnormal way and begin to collect in certain parts of the lymphatic system, such as the lymph nodes (glands).”
The most common symptom is a painless swelling in a lymph node, but there are also other signs such as night sweats, unintentional weight loss, a high temperature, feelings or breathlessness and itching all over the body.
The man, who hasn’t shared his name but posts regular updates on his @ChemoPump TikTok page, revealed there were five specific signs he was experiencing for years before he got diagnosed.
Taking to TikTok, the now 22-year-old, who lives in New Jersey in the US, revealed he would often get a runny nose, which he was experiencing because he had a lowered immune system. He would also get chronic neck and back pain, kept “throwing up for no reason”, had fatigue, “horrible stomach pain and diarrhoea” and “shaky knees”.
Although these might sound like symptoms many people get from time to time, the content creator explained he would have them at “extreme levels”, so urged people not to “overthink it,” but to get anything you’re worried about checked out. If you are experiencing any symptoms that are abnormal for you, you should always speak to a doctor. It doesn’t mean you have cancer, but the earlier you get symptoms checked out, the better.
In a separate TikTok, the content creator explained he had originally gone to hospital in February 2024 for stomach pain, only to be told they’d found a “5cm mass” in his colon, and that it could potentially be cancerous. After getting a petscan and colonoscopy, he was told he had stage 4 non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
He kept working out in the gym, knowing it would be “very important” for being able to fight cancer. He then started chemotherapy, and after eight rounds he is now cancer free. On his page, he wrote: “As hard as this has been, this experience has changed me forever. I hope I can inspire you. Keep fighting.”
If you experience any of the symptoms of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, or anything that is unusual to you, you should see a GP. The NHS says it’s particularly important to see a GP if you have swollen glands that don’t go away after six weeks.
They add: “While these symptoms are unlikely to be caused by non-Hodgkin lymphoma, it’s best to get them checked out.”