A 22-year-old law student has opened up about the terrifying moment a simple medical procedure returned a life-changing diagnosis. 

South Australia woman Lucinda Cleland underwent surgery to remove what doctor’s believed was a benign cyst earlier this year after experiencing chest pains. 

Ms Cleland said she had experienced the same chest pains two year’s before, but the cyst suddenly began to shrink before she needed to get a biopsy. 

When the ping pong ball-sized cyst ballooned in size again, the keen runner wasted no time in undergoing surgery on the advice of her doctor.  

One week later, her doctor called to tell her she had been diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma – a rare and potentially life-threatening form of blood cancer.   

‘I think I said in the hospital, ‘I’ll be damned if this is cancerous,’ because I was so sure it wasn’t going to be and all the health professionals were pretty sure,’ Ms Cleland told The Advertiser

‘But I was very shocked, I had no idea this was going to come.’

The diagnosis risked upending Ms Cleland’s high hopes for the future, including pursuing a career in law with her graduation not far off. 

Lucinda Cleland (pictured) was diagnosed with a rare blood cancer one week after undergoing surgery for what doctors believed was a benign cyst

Lucinda Cleland (pictured) was diagnosed with a rare blood cancer one week after undergoing surgery for what doctors believed was a benign cyst

Ms Cleland, a keen runner, is gearing up to take part in a fundraising half-marathon in the SA beachside community of Victor Harbour

Ms Cleland, a keen runner, is gearing up to take part in a fundraising half-marathon in the SA beachside community of Victor Harbour

‘Being that it was supposed to be the home run of my studies and beginning a career that I really wanted to start,’ she said.

‘I was just petrified that my life was going to go to s*** because the big C-word is not what you want to hear at 22.’

Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a highly-treatable form of cancer, with a survival rate of about 90 per cent five year’s out from diagnosis. 

But treatment is not without it’s own challenges. Ms Cleland was particularly worried about potential hair loss and the costs of chemotherapy drug Dacarbazine. 

Ms Cleland has so far completed four rounds of chemotherapy and is preparing to undergo radiation treatment next month. 

In her spare time, the 22-year-old is preparing to take part in the Victor Harbour Run, a half-marathon event about an hour’s drive south of Adelaide. 

Friends have inundated Ms Cleland with messages of support on social media, praising the bright and kind soul for her courage.

‘You my darling, are amazing’, one woman wrote. ‘Strongest, most beautiful woman’, another added.  

Ms Cleland will be competing in the run to raise funds for cancer research and her treatment

Ms Cleland will be competing in the run to raise funds for cancer research and her treatment

Encouraged by her friends, Ms Cleland has launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for her treatment. 

As of Thursday, the campaign has so far raised $15,542 towards a $16,000 target from 224 individual donations. 

Any leftover funds will go towards Lymphoma Australia to support specialised healthcare professionals, patients and their families. 

‘Thanks for supporting our efforts in raising money for Australia’s #1 blood cancer!’ the campaign page reads.

To donate, a link to Ms Cleland’s GoFundMe page can be found here

Daily Mail has contacted Ms Cleland for further comment.  

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Life of fit 22-year-old law student is changed in an instant when her doctor noticed something strange during a simple medical procedure