Woman’s Year-Long Battle with Exhaustion Reveals Shocking Diagnosis: Blood Cancer
An Australian woman named Briony Benjamin has recently opened up about her year-long struggle with exhaustion, which eventually led to a shocking diagnosis: blood cancer. Benjamin’s symptoms, including chronic fatigue, itchy skin, night sweats, and a persistent cough, were dismissed by multiple doctors who attributed them to hormonal changes. However, after almost 18 months of searching for answers, the 31-year-old was finally told that she had Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a type of blood cancer.
In an interview with 7 News, Benjamin expressed her frustration at being brushed off by medical professionals. She emphasized the importance of pushing for answers and trusting one’s instincts when it comes to their health. Benjamin advises individuals to listen to their bodies and seek a second opinion if their symptoms are being overlooked by their current physician.
Initially, Benjamin believed that her illness was due to a seafood allergy or a common cold. She had become accustomed to feeling unwell and exhausted, considering it her new normal. Despite appearing healthy on the outside, Benjamin’s main symptom was extreme tiredness that she couldn’t shake off. She recounted, My body was sending me all the signs, but I didn’t yet know how to listen and trust it.
It wasn’t until her mother lost a friend to blood cancer that Benjamin’s family insisted on further testing. When she tested positive for Hodgkin’s lymphoma, everyone was shocked. Benjamin’s journey toward recovery involved medical testing, screening, and conversations about fertility preservation. At the age of 31, Benjamin had to confront the possibility of her treatment aging her ovaries and potentially rendering her infertile.
To preserve her fertility, Benjamin underwent the process of freezing her eggs, which involved hormone injections and other medications. This was a small glimmer of hope before her chemotherapy treatments began. After four and a half months of chemotherapy, Benjamin entered remission six weeks ahead of schedule, halting the cancer treatment.
Now, five years later, Briony Benjamin is not only in remission but also expecting a child. She emphasizes the importance of seeking medical attention for various symptoms that could potentially signal underlying health issues. These symptoms include anaemia, kidney damage, persistent fatigue, bone pain, dizziness, frequent infections, unexplained bleeding or bruising, and high calcium levels in the blood.
Benjamin’s story serves as a reminder of the significance of advocating for one’s health. It highlights the importance of finding healthcare professionals who listen and take their patients’ concerns seriously. By sharing her experience, Benjamin hopes to empower others to trust their instincts and seek the medical attention they need. After enduring a year of exhaustion and being dismissed by doctors, she has emerged as a survivor with a renewed appreciation for the power of perseverance and self-advocacy.
