NEED TO KNOW
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Hollie Thursby began to feel odd neck pain whenever she drank wine.
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This 28-year-old mother of two was eventually diagnosed with stage 2 Hodgkin lymphoma, a form of blood cancer.
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She mentioned that pain following alcohol consumption is a lesser-known symptom of the disease; she’s now receiving chemotherapy.
A young woman found out she had blood cancer after experiencing an unusual reaction to drinking alcohol.
In December 2024, after giving birth to her son, Hollie Thursby, 28, from Sunderland, England, felt strange neck pain associated with wine, as reported by Kennedy News and Media.
“After I had [my son] Jack, I’d have a couple of glasses of wine with dinner. I’d feel pain in my neck and behind my ear on the left side. Prosecco sometimes hurt, but I was fine with lager. However, wine was another story—it really, really hurt,” she explained.
She also experienced significant itchiness and fatigue.
“I had felt exhausted for a long time,” she remarked. “I was so tired that I needed naps during the day, which isn’t normal for me… My skin was unbearably itchy, especially my legs.”
Thursby first thought her tiredness was just due to the demands of being a busy mom. But in January 2025, she decided to consult a doctor. Unfortunately, when she brought up her symptoms, medical staff attributed them to her hormones.
“I accepted what the GP said, didn’t really think much of it,” she admitted.
Months later, after noticing a lump on her neck, she returned to the doctor, who referred her for a CT scan and biopsy.
In October 2025, she faced the “heartbreaking” news of stage 2 Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of blood cancer. Symptoms often include swollen lymph nodes, which can trigger pain while drinking, as well as fever and night sweats.
“The blood cancer doctor told me she’d only seen it once in her 17 years of practice,” Thursby shared. “Pain when consuming alcohol is a known symptom of Hodgkin lymphoma—it’s related to the acidity in wine, not with other types of alcohol.”
In November, the primary school teacher began chemotherapy, which she will continue over the next few months. Having lost her mother to a blood disorder during childhood, she expressed concerns about her own children’s future.
“Not being able to care for my boys is the hardest part,” she said. “I worry I might leave them. Growing up without a mum was horrific; I wouldn’t want that for my sons.”
Despite the uncertainty ahead, Thursby feels supported and is making an effort to remain hopeful now that she has a clear diagnosis.
“We’re all devastated, but we have a treatment plan now, and that’s what matters,” she said. “I’m doing everything I can to get better for them. I keep reminding myself this is temporary; I just need to push through.”
