Shafi Islam, a 26-year-old from Tower Hamlets, East London, who dismissed persistent night sweats and headaches as a simple stomach bug, has been diagnosed with an exceptionally rare and aggressive form of cancer: stage four diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. This subtype accounts for just 1% to 3% of all large B-cell lymphoma cases.
Symptoms Dismissed for a Month
In March, Islam began experiencing headaches and fever, which he initially attributed to a passing illness after working as a room survey assistant for London Business School. He continued job hunting and exercising regularly, ignoring the symptoms for a full month. The night sweats became so severe that he would wake up with his pillow and bedsheets drenched. His stomach also became swollen due to fluid buildup, requiring four litres to be drained.
When he finally visited his GP, he was advised to purchase Gaviscon and underwent blood and stool tests, followed by a chest X-ray. Shortly after, he went to A&E, where a biopsy on his armpit revealed low-grade lymphoma. However, doctors suspected a more serious condition due to the severity of his symptoms, prompting a second biopsy on his liver. In June, he was diagnosed with stage four diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Medics believe Islam had been living with a slow-growing form of lymphoma for years without symptoms, which suddenly transformed into an aggressive cancer. He began chemotherapy in June, just a week before his 26th birthday. After his first cycle, he experienced severe side effects, including shivering, a temperature of 40 degrees Celsius, and hair loss. He ended up back in hospital on antibiotics.
Regarding his prognosis, Islam said: "My doctor mentioned that there's over a 50% chance of prognosis, which doesn't seem too optimistic for me. I thought it would be at least 80%." Despite this, he remains determined. "I'll be completely honest, it didn't really faze me. I just thought in a very practical type of way. I'll just go through my treatment, get better and move on," he said.
Career Aspirations Amid Treatment
Islam, who graduated from the University of Greenwich in 2021 with a degree in creative writing, is continuing to job hunt while undergoing chemotherapy. He had secured a temporary park attendant position through an agency but was dropped after being hospitalised before his start date, which he described as "heartbreaking." He has faced hundreds of rejections, which he attributes to lack of experience, but remains determined: "I'm more determined than ever to start my career."
His dream role is in recruitment, but he is open-minded. "I want somewhere I can learn, grow and develop," he said. Islam is currently awaiting scan results after his second round of chemotherapy to determine if the treatment is effective. He faces six cycles in total but stays focused on life after cancer: "I'm trying to plan for my life after treatment and I think I'm going to get through it."
