Georgina Masson, 24, thought she only had a common infection, but was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (APML) after a week in hospital, which left her devastated.
Georgina was struggling to swallow (
Image: Georgina Masson)
A woman who reduced her neck pain and problems swallowing tonsillitis was shocked to find that she had rare blood cancer at just 24 years old.
Georgina Masson, 24, ruled out her swallowing problems as an infection after having had tonsillitis several times before.
But after a course of antibiotics, he continued to struggle to swallow and could barely open his mouth.
She was admitted to East Surrey Hospital, Redhill, Surrey, where doctors tested her to find out what was going on.
In August 2021 he was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (APML) after a week in hospital.
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Georgina was shocked to learn that she had cancer (
Image:
Georgina Masson) Luckily, she got it soon (
Image:
Georgina Masson)
Georgina, who had lost her father, Paul, 54, to cancer when she was 15, was shocked by the news and rushed to start treatment the next day.
She is now nearing the end of her eight cycles of chemotherapy, she is grateful to have been able to detect the disease soon.
Georgina, who worked as an administrative worker in Horsham, West Sussex, said: “I felt so sleepy when I was told I had cancer.
“I just thought I had tonsillitis, I had no idea it was much worse than that. I had to start treatment right away.
“It was terrifying, especially after I lost my father when I was 15 years old.
“I never expected to have cancer at 24. I really thought I had a sore throat, but it turned out much worse.”
He lost three stones after falling ill (
Image:
Georgina Masson) Now she wants to raise awareness (
Image:
Georgina Masson)
In July 2021, Georgina began to notice that she had lost some weight, but she didn’t think about it, as she was happy to exchange a few pounds for the summer.
“I think I lost about three stones, but that didn’t seem like a concern to me,” he said.
But he was also discovering that his gums would bleed easily and that he would have to bruise quickly.
“I had never had nosebleeds or anything, but suddenly I had them,” Georgina said.
“I just thought the bruises were due to my clumsiness.”
After thinking he had tonsillitis in July 2021, he was given antibiotics to clear up the infection.
“After a few weeks I still couldn’t swallow and could barely open my mouth,” he said.
“Drugs don’t seem to work.”
Georgina was admitted to East Surrey Hospital, Redhill, Surrey, by her GP and they did more tests to see what it could be.
“I’m starting to have a horrible red rash all over my body,” he said.
“The doctors thought it might have been a reaction to the antibiotics, but they didn’t go away when I took them off.”
Georgina and her father (
Image:
Georgina Masson)
Finally, after a bone marrow biopsy, doctors were able to diagnose Georgina with acute myeloid leukemia in August 2021.
“I didn’t really recognize what they had said,” Georgina said.
“My mother, Elizabeth, 62, was more upset, but I just felt asleep. At first she didn’t really sink.”
Georgina was referred to Royal Marsden Hospital, Sutton, Surrey, for treatment.
“At first I was told I had the strain of AML, which is not that uncommon, so I was told I could go home and start chemotherapy in a week,” he said.
“But on the way home, they called to tell him that they were investigating more and that they needed him to start that night.
“I was just told I had cancer the day before and I was suddenly starting chemotherapy.
“It was all so fast.”
Georgina began her treatment in August 2021. So far she has undergone seven cycles and is due to finish in May 2022.
“It’s been really hard,” he said.
“I have suffered from severe headaches to the point of having to sit in a completely dark room with an eye mask on. But recent results show that I am almost in complete molecular remission.
“I feel more positive now that I’m overcoming this.
“But there were points where I thought I was going to die. I’m lucky I got it soon.”
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