I had terrible hangovers after two drinks at age 19 – then doctors told it me it was because I had stage three CANCER

A teenager has told how a worsening hangover led to a devastating stage three cancer diagnosis.

In April last year, Poppy Begley, then 19, began vomiting and developed rashes and sores on her face after drinking just two drinks at a party.

At first she attributed the symptoms to too much partying. She became more concerned when she started coughing up blood and the symptoms persisted.

She was hospitalized three times that summer and misdiagnosed as having a blood disorder. It wasn’t until December 2022 that doctors decided to biopsy Poppy’s lump that had formed on her neck.

Poppy during treatment in hospital

Party Girl: Poppy (right) partying with a friend in 2022.

Tests revealed she had stage three Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a cancer that affects lymph tissue found in the lymph nodes, spleen, liver, bone marrow and other parts of the body.

“It was very bittersweet – I spent so much time worrying about what was wrong with me and fearing that something might be seriously wrong and no one was going to find out what it was” – Poppy, from Auckland , New Zealand. This was reported by NeedToKnow.co.uk.

“Part of me was happy that I no longer had to worry about what exactly was wrong.

“But another part of me was obviously very upset that I would have to go through chemotherapy and lose my hair, eyelashes and eyebrows.

“I worked as a model for a few years so the thought of it was very difficult for me, but at the end of the day you win some and you lose some.

Poppy is full of life during the party (left) and after one of the brutal chemotherapy sessions (right)

Following her diagnosis, Poppy began chemotherapy in February 2023, shortly after her 20th birthday, and continued for four months.

“The doctors assured me it was unlikely to be fatal unless I picked up any serious infections during chemotherapy – they have a high remission rate for Hodgkin lymphoma, (so) luckily I got the lesser of all evils.”

Her anxiety initially began after she experienced an increasingly severe hangover from a night out.

Poppy, who works as a florist and swimming instructor, said: “If I went out for a drink, it would take me two drinks to feel much drunker than most people my age and maybe three or four drinks before I I would feel very bad.” .

“Almost every evening I would go outside and either that night or the next morning I would vomit.

“I also noticed a tendency to cough up blood in the mornings after drinking alcohol, and the rash on my face got worse and worse.”

Following her diagnosis, Poppy began chemotherapy in February 2023, shortly after her 20th birthday, and it continued for four months.

She said: “I spent one of those months in hospital out of patience because I had a very severe and rare reaction to a blood transfusion that left me with the worst pain I’ve ever experienced in my life – in my bones. .

Poppy after finishing chemotherapy and growing her hair back

She can enjoy an espresso martini after doctors have given her the all clear.

“I took so many painkillers that it completely messed up my stomach and bowels and in turn my weight dropped to 35kg (5st 5lb) and I was stuck on a feeding tube.

“(It was) the only time I was truly afraid for my life.”

Poppy was able to undergo chemotherapy and is now in remission.

She was also able to return to work after having to focus on treatment for most of the year.

Poppy said: “I think the worst thing about getting cancer and coming out of it is realizing that although your life is on hold, the world and everyone around you goes on.

“For a while you feel like you’ve taken so many steps back that it’s hard to get back to normal.

“Ultimately it gave me a different outlook on life.

“I remember being in hospital and not being allowed outside for weeks because my mother’s immune system was too weakened.

“When I went outside and the sun was shining in my face, I just started crying and couldn’t stop.

“I took the smallest things for granted before the smallest things became out of reach.

“I’m grateful to have my life back, especially after a year of not knowing (what was wrong).”