A young mother from Sunderland has revealed how an unusual pain she experienced after drinking wine turned out to be a sign of a devastating blood cancer diagnosis.
From Postnatal Check to Shocking Discovery
Hollie Thursby, a 28-year-old primary school teacher, first noticed a sharp pain behind her left ear and down her neck when she enjoyed a couple of glasses of wine after the birth of her second son in December 2024. She mentioned this, along with unbearably itchy skin and extreme tiredness, to doctors at her six-week postnatal check in January 2025, but claims her symptoms were initially dismissed as hormonal changes.
The situation took a serious turn in July 2025 when Hollie discovered a lump on the left side of her neck, prompting her to return to her GP. Following a CT scan and a biopsy, she received a heartbreaking diagnosis on October 23, 2025: she had stage two Hodgkin lymphoma.
A Painful and Rare Symptom
Hollie described how the pain was specifically linked to certain drinks. "I could have prosecco and sometimes it would hurt and sometimes it wouldn't. I could have lager and it wouldn't hurt but with wine it would really, really hurt," she explained.
Her oncologist later informed her that pain after drinking alcohol is a known, though rare, symptom of Hodgkin lymphoma, likely related to the acidity. The doctor noted she had only seen one other similar case in 17 years of practice.
A Family History and a Fight for the Future
The diagnosis was particularly chilling for Hollie due to her family history. Her mother died from a blood disorder called myelodysplasia when Hollie was just ten years old. "It's too much of a coincidence," she said. "I just felt shocked and heartbroken."
Hollie began chemotherapy on November 4, 2025. The hardest part, she says, is not being able to care for her two young sons. "I'm their mum, it's my job to look after them. I'm worried that I'm dying and that I'm going to leave them," she shared. "I grew up without a mum and it was horrendous, I can't do that to the boys."
She is now focusing on her treatment, supported by family, and clinging to the hope that her recovery is temporary. The NHS lists pain in the neck, armpit, or groin after consuming alcohol as a potential symptom of Hodgkin lymphoma, caused by swelling in affected lymph nodes.
