I thought a lump in my chest was from hitting the gym – but the reality was heartbreaking
WHEN Tomas Evans woke up with an apple-sized lump on his shoulder, he thought he had just pulled a muscle at the gym.
It was just two days after the 18-year-old had done a workout, and he was experiencing pain.
The electrical installation student made an appointment to see his GP and was referred for further tests.
After having MRIs, x-rays and a biopsy, he was diagnosed with stage two Hodgkin Lymphoma.
This is an uncommon cancer that develops in the lymphatic system, which is a network of vessels and glands spread throughout your body, the NHS states.
Tomas’ mother, 38-year-old Rachael Tudor, said that it was ‘heart-breaking’ to watch him go through such an ordeal but that she’s so proud of him and how he’s coped.
Tomas, of Wrexham, Denbighshire, Wales said even though he was surprised when he woke up with the lump, he had a feeling something wasn’t right.
“I thought that lump was just a gym injury. I went to the gym and two days later woke up with a big lump on my shoulder and it was causing me really bad pain.
“The lump was quite big and about the size of an apple.
“I thought it had just been a muscle that had come out of place or something and it wasn’t, it was to do with the lymphoma.
“It [the diagnosis] is a weird moment to describe because it didn’t really hit me straight away, it was kind of later on.
“When they first told me there was ‘something there’ it was a shock but when they said what it actually was, I kind of knew what it would be, I had a feeling.”
Rachael said that initially, she just assumed that he had damaged something whilst at the gym.
However when her son received a letter asking him to go into hospital to discuss the results of tests, she knew something wasn’t right.
“Getting the news your son has a mass the size of a fist in his chest is something no parent wants to hear, it was heart-breaking.
What are the symptoms of Hodgkin Lymphoma you need to know?
THE NHS states that the most common symptom of Hodgkin lymphoma is a swelling in the neck, armpit or groin
Guidance states that the swelling is usually painless, although some people find that it aches.
Medics explain that the swelling is caused by an excess of affected lymphocytes (white blood cells) collecting in a lymph node (also called lymph glands).
“Lymph nodes are pea-sized lumps of tissue found throughout the body. They contain white blood cells that help to fight infection.
“However, it’s highly unlikely that you have Hodgkin lymphoma if you have swollen lymph nodes, as these glands often swell as a response to infection.”
You might also experience:
- night sweats
- unintentional weight loss
- a high temperature
- a persistent cough
- persistent itching all over the body.
If you are worried about your symptoms you should see a GP.
In the event of an emergency always call 999 or visit your closest A&E department.
“He went straight for blood tests and a biopsy to see what exactly it was and we were faced with non Hodgkins Lymphoma or testicular cancer.
“We came home and cried for the whole two weeks waiting on the test results. It was the most horrendous two weeks of our lives as the crippling anxiety of what on earth we were facing was awful.”
Tomas was diagnosed with stage two Hodgkin Lymphoma in July.
He believed the mass had formed earlier in the year – so luckily, he’d caught it early on.
He said that the mass in his chest caused the lump in his collarbone to appear and that other than that, he had no other symptoms.
Tomas started his chemotherapy in September and will have it every other week for six months, and will finish in February.
Mum Rachael has now set up a GoFundMe page to put some money towards a holiday for Tomas and his 19-year-old girlfriend Morgan Evans to celebrate him finishing treatment.
They’re also hoping to donate the rest to a charity supporting those fighting Lymphoma.
Tomas said: “The chemotherapy is going really well. My scan about five weeks ago came back clear but I’ve still got to do the treatment until the end of February just to make sure that it’s gone everywhere.
“I had to take a year out of college and stop work and being able to go out places is a lot more difficult now because I’m at a high risk of infections.
“I get tired quite easily walking around places and just doing normal things, especially closer to when I’ve had the treatment as well.
“I’ve received the call clear but I’ve just got to finish chemotherapy just to make sure that it’s gone everywhere.
“I’d tell others who have symptoms to go and get checked out because I didn’t know, only that I hurt myself, otherwise I still wouldn’t know.”
