Interview 27
While pregnant she discovered swellings on her neck, which were not investigated. Following delivery an ear ache led to a diagnosis of Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2000, which was treated with chemotherapy.
When 7-8 weeks pregnant she discovered a swelling on her neck. Her GP prescribed antibiotics. The swelling had not completely gone in a month so she returned and had a blood test, with negative results. Two months later she developed another large swelling on her neck and returned to the GP, who gave her more penicillin.
A month later she experienced breathing difficulties but after examining her the GP assured her there was nothing wrong. A week later she developed terrible back pain, was given Pethidine at the maternity hospital and sent home but was readmitted later with a severely painful and swollen leg due to a deep vein thrombosis (DVT). She spent one week in hospital and had to take an anti-coagulant drug for the rest of her pregnancy. Despite increasing tiredness she returned to work until her baby was delivered.
At a routine post-natal check she mentioned that she had ear ache. The midwife arranged for a doctor to visit who gave her a letter to take to her next consultation about her anti-coagulant treatment. A biopsy was done, which showed that she had Hodgkin’s disease. Further tests revealed that it had spread to her lungs and liver. She started having night sweats.
She was given 12 cycles of ABVD chemotherapy for which she had to stop breastfeeding her ten-week-old baby. She had to take medication to boost her blood cells before some of her treatments and was hospitalised on four occasions because she had become neutropenic and had to have intravenous antibiotics. After treatment she experienced repeated swelling of the glands in her neck so finally had a tonsillectomy and has been fine since.
Throughout her treatment she continued in her roles of housewife and mother but broke down emotionally once treatment was completed. She had counselling for 6 months.