Ruby is trying to remain positive about the situation
Ruby Costello felt something wasn’t right two years ago(Image: Ruby Costello)
A woman has received a worrying diagnosis after two years of feeling unwell. Ruby Costello, 18, who is originally from Old Swan, began to suspect something was wrong when a lump developed on her neck in 2023.
However, Ruby says doctors eventually put the issue down to glandular fever, and it wasn’t treated. The illness began to alleviate after that, but over the next two years Ruby suffered from her neck locking in place, as well as weight fluctuations, night sweats, and feeling out of breath. It was only when she went into A&E last month with chest pains that she was formally diagnosed with stage three Hodgkin lymphoma, a form of blood cancer.
According to the NHS, the most common symptom of Hodgkin lymphoma is a swelling in the neck, armpit, or groin. Other symptoms include night sweats, unintentional weight loss, and feeling breathless.
Ruby is trying to look on the positive side, arguing that doctors have told her new chemotherapy treatments mean her condition should be 95% curable.
Ruby, who now lives in Kensington, told the ECHO it’s been a frustrating time for her. She said: “In 2023, I went into hospital with a big, massive lump in my neck.
“Initially, they did a scan in the hospital and said it was a tumour that needed to be removed straight away. But then a doctor came around and said that I just had glandular fever.
“My neck was locked in place quite a few times. I went to the doctors, and they just put it down to torticollis.” This is a condition where the neck muscles contract.
Ruby added: “My weight was fluctuating as well. One day, it would be the lowest it had been in quite a while. Then the next week I’d be the heaviest in quite a while. I had night sweats as well. My breathlessness was just constant too.”
A lump developed on Ruby’s neck in 2023(Image: Ruby Costello)
Ruby wasn’t surprised when she was officially diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma on June 10. She said: “I knew it was coming. I had been into A&E two weeks before with chest pains.
“They did a CT scan again and said that it looked like Hodgkin lymphoma, so all things were pointing to that. I’ve just been dead positive about the situation, to be honest. I’m just trying to get as many memories as possible with my friends and family.”
Despite this, it has been hard for some of Ruby’s family to process the news. She said: “My mum’s absolutely devastated. When she’d start crying, I’d start crying. They’re all absolutely devastated but are being so supportive.”
Ruby says she has met someone else with Hodgkin lymphoma, which has concerned her. She said: “He was at stage three. He was told it was curable as well. He went into remission twice, and now it’s come back, and he’s got a year left to live.
Ruby says it has been other aspects of the treatment that have been hardest for her to take. She has had to freeze her eggs and is not allowed to use a cold cap, a device used to reduce hair loss during chemotherapy.
She said: “The part that’s really upset me is the fertility part. I’ve got to freeze my eggs and go through IVF just to make sure that the chemo doesn’t affect my fertility.
“I’ve spent grands and grands on hair extensions, so that’s upset me as well. They’ve said I’m going to lose my hair because with this type of cancer I’m not allowed to cold cap. They want the chemo to reach every single cell.”
As well as enjoying a holiday in Spain with her family before her treatment starts, Ruby has started a TikTok documenting her experience. She has also set up a GoFundMe to raise money for an expensive human hair wig, which will help her feel “more like herself” during such an uncertain time.”
The remaining money after getting a wig will be used to support transport to and from the hospital appointments and other necessities.
Ruby said: “I was surprised we nearly hit the target within 14 hours of actually posting the GoFundMe. I’ve also started a TikTok documenting what it’s been like. That’s doing quite well, and people are leaving supportive comments, which is really heartwarming.
“It doesn’t feel like I’ve got cancer at all. I just keep thinking to myself, is this a simulation? Am I imagining it? Obviously it will start to feel real next week when I do chemo.
“If people are noticing any lumps, make sure that you just push to get it properly checked out.”
You can find out more about Ruby’s GoFundMe here.