Nieve Mottram, a 20-year-old from Childwall, has had her life "put on hold" after being diagnosed with classical Hodgkin lymphoma, a form of blood cancer. She first noticed lumps on her neck in June 2025, but doctors initially said they were related to white blood cells. In November, a lump appeared under her arm, which grew dramatically by April 1, 2026, prompting further investigation. In May 2026, she received the diagnosis.
Diagnosis and Symptoms
Classical Hodgkin lymphoma occurs when white blood cells multiply uncontrollably and transform into abnormal Reed-Sternberg cells. According to Blood Cancer UK and Lymphoma Action, the most common symptom is a persistent, painless, rubbery lump, often in the neck or above the collarbone, but it can appear elsewhere. Around 2,000 people are diagnosed annually in the UK, typically aged 15-34 or over 60.
Nieve's mother, Heidi Mottram, 54, said: "There are other symptoms like night sweats, dramatic weight loss and shortness of breath. She'd just had a lump. To find out it was a form of blood cancer, it was shocking." Nieve added: "We were under the impression that some people just have lumps for no reason. With this, the lump is really not meant to be there at all."
Treatment and Impact
Nieve is at stage three, but the condition is curable as abnormal cells remain confined to lymph nodes. She has started chemotherapy, which has forced her to pause her career after completing a makeup studies course. She cannot attend her graduation this year and must maintain a strict organic diet to avoid infections due to a compromised immune system.
Heidi explained: "She's worked so hard over the last two years. She was looking forward to her graduation... Obviously everything's on hold now for her. We'll have to make sure that everything is very clean. Water, food, everything really." A GoFundMe page has been set up to support the family.
