Girl who was told by doctors her symptoms were 'teen problems' warns young people to check neck

Georgia Kennedy was diagnosed with lymphoma cancer aged 19 after battling extreme tiredness, a cough and had noticed a lump on her neck - and has now shared some common symptoms

A student who had a lump on her neck for two years and was told by doctors her symptoms were "teenage problems" before she was given a devastating cancer diagnosis has now given a warning to other young people.

Georgia Kennedy, from Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, was diagnosed with lymphoma cancer aged 19 after battling extreme tiredness, a cough and had noticed a lump on her neck. Following her experience, Georgia, who was given the all-clear in May 2023 after six cycles of chemotherapy, is now calling for young people to be aware of common cancer signs.

The trampoline gymnast and coach, who is now 21, had struggled with tiredness since she was 15 and said she put her symptoms on the "back burner" as she explained: "I was a tired teenager compared to my friends. I'd stopped all my sports because of it and cut down on activities, but when Covid hit I put the issue on the back burner. When I was diagnosed it made sense.

"I had tiredness since I was about 15. I never had an X-ray taken, I had ECGs, echoes, stress tests, sleep studies. I thought I had narcolepsy. I was told it was 'teenage problems' and that I'd get over it."

Then, in October 2022, Georgia developed a cough which led to her going to hospital and being diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma. She said: "I thought my cough was seasonal so ignored it for a few weeks, but I wasn't improving so I made a GP appointment.

"They looked at my notes, saw that I had asthma when I was younger and told me to use inhalers for a few weeks. It was getting worse so a few weeks later I rang them again and they asked me how I'd like to proceed. I was only 19 and had no idea.

"I ended up having an X-ray a few days later. They said it looked abnormal but that it was nothing urgent and I'd have a CT after Christmas." Three days before Christmas, Georgia was in Peterborough City Hospital A&E struggling to breathe and had another chest x-ray. She said she had a tingly feeling in her face, chest pain and couldn't breathe properly.

Georgia added: "A nurse said it could be an infection, but it's most likely cancer. I hadn't even registered cancer as an option so I thought that can't be right. I remember having tunnel vision, I couldn't really hear anyone, and it was like my senses were gone. I just sat there thinking this can't be happening.

"When I developed the cough, I did have a lump on my neck that I didn't notice. Now when I look back at photos, I can see the lump from maybe two years before I was diagnosed. But because it was so small and grew so gradually, I didn't ever say anything about it."

Teenage Cancer Trust research has found that just 17% of 13-24-year-olds know all five of the main warning signs of cancer in young people. Georgia said: "You hear to check for lumps and bumps in your breasts, but you're never told to check anywhere else like your neck or lymph nodes, so you wouldn't.

"I'd also lost about 10 kilos from summer to that Christmas and again, didn't notice. I feel like I'm partly to blame because I didn't notice a lot of these things and I think my mum feels a bit of guilt about that too. But you never think it's going to be cancer and the symptoms can be over a longer period of time than you think."

Georgia was diagnosed with suspected Hodgin lymphoma and had six cycles of chemotherapy and was given the all clear in May 2023. She went travelling following her remission and is now studying drama at Manchester University.

Louise Soanes, Teenage Cancer Trust Chief Nurse, said: "It's so important to know your own body to be able to spot any changes. Although cancer in young people is rare, it does happen, so it's really important that young people know the most common signs."

Five most common signs of cancer in young people

1. Lumps, bumps and swellings
2. Unexplained tiredness
3. Mole changes
4. Persistent pain
5. Unexplained weight change