A young Birmingham woman has shared her distressing experience of being diagnosed with cancer after claiming her GP laughed off her initial concerns about potentially having the disease.
Repeated Visits and Growing Concerns
Kelly Underwood, a 25-year-old educator from Birmingham, first noticed troubling symptoms in February 2025 including persistent fatigue, sore eyes, and unusual rashes on her knuckles. By June that year, the situation escalated when she discovered a concerning lump in her neck, prompting her partner Olivia Read, 28, to insist she seek immediate medical attention.
During her initial GP consultation, medical professionals identified a swollen lymph node but couldn't determine the underlying cause. They advised Kelly to monitor the situation for a week and return if symptoms persisted, beginning what would become a frustrating three-month journey through the healthcare system.
Multiple Appointments Without Answers
Over the following quarter, Kelly visited her GP surgery a total of six times, consulting with various medical professionals who remained unable to diagnose her condition. Growing increasingly concerned about her deteriorating health, Kelly attended one appointment accompanied by her mother, who directly challenged the doctor about the lack of progress.
The breakthrough came when a doctor reviewed Kelly's blood test results from the previous five years and noticed concerning abnormalities including low iron levels and elevated inflammatory markers. This discovery prompted the arrangement of a follow-up appointment, but not before Kelly and Olivia conducted their own research using online resources.
The Turning Point and Diagnosis
Armed with their research, Kelly asked a doctor whether her symptoms could indicate cancer. She recalls the response with clarity: "They laughed at us and said there was no way it was cancer, which I felt reassured about. I came out of that appointment and thought I better just believe what they were saying."
Despite this dismissal, medical professionals eventually referred Kelly for a biopsy, CT scan, and ultrasound as her symptoms worsened. Her eyes became increasingly bloodshot, fatigue intensified, and the neck lump appeared to be growing. A follow-up consultation scheduled for September 8 would deliver life-changing news.
Receiving the Diagnosis
Accompanied by Olivia, Kelly received the devastating confirmation from her doctor: "I'm really sorry to tell you but you've got cancer." Kelly describes her initial reaction: "The first time she said that word, I thought I hadn't heard it right. I burst into tears. The next thing I remember is looking at Liv and I've never seen her cry the way she did."
The couple left the appointment feeling devastated and uncertain, with Kelly particularly distressed by the lack of immediate information about treatment options or prognosis. It was only after Olivia contacted the doctor the following day that they learned the specific diagnosis: Hodgkin lymphoma.
Treatment Journey and Support
Following ten anxious days with minimal communication, a follow-up appointment confirmed the Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis and outlined an aggressive treatment plan. Due to Kelly's youth and general fitness, doctors recommended the "most intense" available treatment protocol.
Medical concerns about a lymph node potentially blocking her airway prompted urgent arrangements for a bed at Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital. During this waiting period, Kelly made a spontaneous romantic gesture, proposing to Olivia at a Costa drive-through after abandoning original plans for a castle-top proposal.
Chemotherapy and Recovery
Kelly's treatment began at the end of September with an "escalated BEACOPDac" regimen - a 21-day cycle of chemotherapy complemented by filgrastim injections to stimulate white blood cell production and steroids. The six-round treatment plan brought challenging side effects including hair loss after the first round, bone marrow pain from injections, and significant mobility difficulties.
Throughout this difficult period, Olivia remained constantly by Kelly's side, even proposing to her in October during a walk in Sutton Park using an illuminated trail message. The couple also received valuable support from Cathy, the Teenage Cancer Trust's youth support co-ordinator, who provided distraction during chemotherapy sessions and remained available for support.
Looking Forward and Lessons Learned
Kelly completed her final round of chemotherapy earlier this month and now awaits a scan scheduled for late February to check for remaining signs of cancer. An appointment in early March may potentially deliver the all-clear she hopes for.
The couple plans a low-key engagement celebration at their local pub with family, followed by a wedding within the next two years. Reflecting on her experience, Kelly offers important advice to others: "You get told about checking your boobs, but you don't get told about checking your neck. I also think people need to advocate for themselves with doctors if they're not being referred properly. We all think that it's never going to be us, but it could be."
Her story highlights the importance of patient advocacy, thorough medical investigation of persistent symptoms, and the valuable support provided by organisations like the Teenage Cancer Trust for young people facing cancer diagnoses.
