A young woman who was given a life-changing diagnosis after suffering night sweats is finally set to enjoy her first Christmas cancer-free.
Erin Lavery was just 21 when she suddenly developed a persistent cough, breathlessness, dizzy spells and sweating throughout the night.
The young woman knew something was amiss, but things took a terrifying turn when she noticed a lump had appeared on her neck and she began experiencing severe headaches.
The migraines blurred her vision, meaning she regularly needed to take time off from her job as a nail technician.
Her worsening health prompted multiple visits to the GP and, later, hospital, where she was given some devastating news – she had Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of blood cancer.
“Being diagnosed with cancer was the scariest thing I’ve ever been through,” Erin, now 22, from Glasgow, told Need To Know.
“But at the same time, it was a relief because I’d been sick for so long.”
Further tests revealed the cancer had spread to her neck, chest and stomach, and Erin immediately started chemotherapy.
She can recall feeling severely sick and weak as she battled agonising mouth sores which left her unable to talk, eat or drink.
Erin, who received her diagnosis in August 2024, said: “I was supposed to be home the week before Christmas, but I had an infection, which meant I didn’t get out until Christmas Eve.
“I was so disappointed.
“I was really sick when I got home and spent Christmas Eve in the toilet.
“On Christmas Day, I still wasn’t feeling great, but I rallied.
“I had a nice day with my mum, dad and sisters, but it wasn’t the same.
“We normally make a big day of it and see everyone in the wider family, but we couldn’t because of the risk of infection.
“I was sick all of Christmas rather than spending it with family.
“I was then back for three days of chemo from 29 December to 1 January.
“This was really hard as I just wanted to be a normal 21-year-old and go out with my friends on New Year’s Eve.
“It had been so long since I’d seen my friends properly.
“I really missed them, but luckily I met others my age on the Teenage Cancer Trust ward where I had my treatment.
“They were going through the same thing as me, so I felt less alone and made tons of friends.
“The unit made my cancer experience less traumatic because I didn’t feel like I was going to the hospital.
“I felt really safe and comfortable, and it became a second home.”
Sadly, Erin went on to receive the devastating news that her scan was not clear following six months of chemotherapy, and she needed to start radiotherapy treatment.
She endured 18 gruelling sessions before being told she was finally cancer-free.
Erin said: “I felt so sick during my last cycle of chemo that I thought it must be working.
“It was so hard to hear, but I was so determined to get better.
“I knew treatment was just something that I had to do, and I was grateful I was getting it.
“When I was told I had the all-clear, I couldn’t believe that was it, and it was completely done.
“It didn’t sink in for a while.”
Now, after seven months of gruelling treatment, Erin is finally set to enjoy a cancer-free Christmas this year.
She said: “This year it’ll be nice to enjoy Christmas knowing I’m not going back to the hospital afterwards.
“We always have a big family Christmas, which is nice. I’m really looking forward to it.
“After getting so many infections during treatment, it’s nice to be able to go out and see people I want to see without worrying about germs.
“I think from my family’s point of view, it’ll be nice for them to enjoy this Christmas more, too, because they were terrified to give me an infection last year.
“I think for quite a lot of things throughout treatment, like Christmas, my mindset was that I didn’t want my life to be on pause.
“I still wanted to enjoy myself and didn’t want to think of anything as ‘I’ll do this when I’m cancer free.’
“I thought, ‘what would make me happy right now?’ and I would do what made me feel good.”
The young woman is now calling for people to support Teenage Cancer Trust, the charity that helped her through her agonising ordeal, in their Christmas appeal.
Teenage Cancer Trust lead nurse, Dr Louise Soanes, said: “Cancer doesn’t stop for Christmas.
“Some may have just heard the devastating words ‘you have cancer,’ whilst others may be suffering from the impact of treatment over the holidays. For some, it may be their last Christmas.
“Our nurses and youth workers go above and beyond to make the festive season as special as possible for not only young people, but their families too.
“Whether it’s a visit to a Christmas market, decorations on our hospital wards, or a festive quiz, we’re there to help young people find joy and a sense of normalcy during the holidays.”
