Discovery After Painful Reaction to Alcohol
A woman’s troubling experience with alcohol led to a significant health revelation.
Holly Thursby, a 28-year-old mother from the UK, shared with Kennedy News & Media that after giving birth to her second son, Jack, she began to notice some unusual symptoms.
During a checkup, she mentioned that Jack had “unbearable itchy skin,” which is not uncommon after childbirth. Doctors attributed this to hormonal shifts.
Thursby, who enjoyed a few glasses of wine from time to time, mentioned that despite her minimal consumption, she was plagued by “quite a bit of pain” in her neck. “It was really painful and uncomfortable,” she recounted.
She also reported feeling exceptionally tired, which she initially thought was just because she was constantly caring for her children.
“Even when I went to bed, it felt like someone was sitting on my chest,” she expressed.
In July 2025, she discovered a lump on her neck, which she described as “really pretty big” but not painful. “It was stiff and didn’t move, but it was definitely there,” she noted. “When I turned my head to the side, I saw it.”
Ultimately, it turned out her symptoms were indicative of stage 2 Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a type of blood cancer affecting multiple lymph nodes.
Common signs include swollen lymph nodes, excessive sweating, unintentional weight loss, itching, ongoing cough or shortness of breath, high fever, and discomfort in the stomach or lymph nodes when consuming alcohol.
Thursby pointed out, “Pain when drinking alcohol is actually a known side effect of Hodgkin lymphoma. It’s about the acidity in the wine, not other types of alcohol.”
Although alcohol-related pain in Hodgkin lymphoma patients is acknowledged in medical literature dating back to the 1950s, such instances remain rare, according to Healthline.
Thursby began chemotherapy in November and reflected on the emotional toll it has taken, especially after losing her mother to a blood disease known as myelodysplasia.
“I grew up without a mother and it was terrible. I can’t do that to my sons,” she said. “We’re all devastated, but now we know what we’re facing, and we have a treatment plan.”
“I’m just doing the best I can for them. I tell myself this is temporary, and I have to keep pushing forward,” she added.
If you find yourself experiencing pain or any concerning symptoms after drinking alcohol, don’t hesitate to consult with a medical professional.
