Emma Herring during treatment (Image: Emma Herring/SWNS)
A woman aged 22 was diagnosed with aggressive cancer after her symptoms were put down to being a « pulled muscle from having a panic attack » and advised to take co-codamol. Emma Herring was also told she was « too young for cancer » and her symptoms were likely attributed to anxiety before receiving a stage 4 Hodgkin’s lymphoma diagnosis – delivered via telephone while at work.
She had been experiencing chest pains since April last year and made repeated visits to her GP seeking help, but claims she was incorrectly diagnosed on numerous occasions. Emma also claimed that, due to her age, her symptoms were continually disregarded and attributed to potentially having a pulled muscle, anxiety, pneumonia and even arthritis.
Emma, an optical assistant at Specsavers, was ultimately referred to the University Hospital of North Durham for additional tests in early November. The following day, she was diagnosed with a seven-centimetre tumour in her chest, a four-centimetre tumour in her neck and informed that the blood cancer had metastasised to her lymph nodes.
Emma is now encouraging all young women to trust their instincts and seek a second opinion if something feels amiss.
Emma, from Durham, said: « I knew something wasn’t right as I had been suffering these pains in my chest since April. I booked into my GP and saw a nurse practitioner who told me it was probably down to anxiety.
Emma Herring before her diagnosis (Image: Emma Herring/SWNS)
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« Then around May time I had not improved, so I called 111, who advised I go to A&E for an ECG and I got an outpatient appointment with GP. No ECG was done and he told me it was likely I had pulled a muscle while having a panic attack.
« I have a history of anxiety, but I hadn’t even mentioned having a panic attack, so I don’t know where that came from. In August I had an X-ray and they could see a mass, – but (they) prescribed me antibiotics for suspected pneumonia as they discounted cancer due to my age.
« Around six weeks later there was improvement and my bloods were all over the place – but this time they mentioned arthritis. I was a bit confused why they were mentioning arthritis when I was having pains in my chest at the age of 22.
« After having another X-ray and CT scan in November, I went back to work the next day, as I’m not normally one to call in sick. But before I could start my shift at 8.30am they called me up over the phone and broke the news to me (that) it was cancer on the phone.
« It wasn’t done in a consultation room with doctors, nurses or with any other support – just over the phone. We went to hospital and that is when we were told it was stage 4 cancer, the most advanced stage you can get, and I didn’t believe it. It was and still is the scariest thing I have ever gone through in my life. »
Emma Herring (Image: Emma Herring/SWNS)
Emma commenced intensive chemotherapy straight away at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle owing to how advanced and aggressive the cancer had become. What was originally scheduled as four cycles has now been increased to six, and she is presently midway through her fifth round.
Within just three weeks of beginning treatment, she lost her long flowing red hair – « part of her identity » – something she admitted she was unprepared for.
Emma added: « My hair was my identity and I wasn’t prepared for how quickly it happened. I also didn’t have a chance to freeze my eggs and there’s a chance I could end up infertile.
« Because of the aggressiveness of my cancer, we just had to go straight into chemo, so they didn’t have time to do that for me. It is upsetting thinking I may not be able to have children or may get an early menopause too.
« The whole experience has really affected me mentally, but also physically as well. I have to sometimes get my mum to help me out of the shower and I am 22.
« I just never ever expected to get cancer, especially not at this age. I was finally getting to a happy place in my life, got my own flat, and now it has all gone away from me.
« I’ve moved back in with my parents, but I’ve only been out of hospital for around four or five days over the last few months. I used to enjoy going out with my friends, but now my life is on hold.
« It just feels like it is a waiting game as we don’t fully know what is going to happen. I might need an operation as I had sepsis recently and they think the infection is quite deep-rooted.
« When I do go out of hospital, my bloods drop due to the treatment, so even when I go out shopping I have to be really careful about infections. I have always been relatively healthy, apart from the odd cold, I haven’t been ill like this before – it is just absolutely crazy.
« It is just frustrating because I knew something was up, all the signs were there. But because of my age, we just didn’t think it would be as bad as it is and so progressive.
Emma Herring in hospital (Image: Emma Herring/SWNS)
« I just take each day as it comes – you have good days and bad days and try to even approach the bad days with positivity. I have realised worrying or being scared or sad will not change anything and I’m just being positive.
« I just want others to be aware of the symptoms, to seek a second opinion if things don’t feel right, don’t be afraid to bug them, like I did. People need to listen to their bodies. I have also had remarkable support from the Teenage Cancer Trust and I have to thank them immensely because I don’t think I would have been able to do it without them. »
Emma is currently unable to work while undergoing treatment and now faces growing financial strain. She has launched a GoFundMe appeal to assist with essential expenses, including hospital travel costs.
Gill Hunt, the acting chief nurse for County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, said: « We are very sorry to hear about Ms Herring’s diagnosis and the distress this will have caused her and her family. We understand how frightening this experience must have been.
« While we are unable to comment on the specific details of an individual patient’s care, we would welcome the opportunity to speak with Ms Herring directly, to listen to her experience and ensure appropriate support is in place. We encourage anyone who feels their symptoms are not improving, or who remains concerned about their health, to seek further medical advice. We are committed to learning from patient experiences and continually improving the care we provide. »
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