This story offers hope and insight for anyone going through cancer treatment - or supporting a loved one on that journey. It shows how easily symptoms can be overlooked in young people, and how vital specialist scanning is in getting the right diagnosis as early as possible.
Now cancer free, Brigita was just 20 when she was finally diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of blood cancer that affects the lymphatic system, after her symptoms were written off as a stubborn case of Freshers’ Flu. She was a first-year university student, juggling lectures, social life and a new city, and it felt easier to believe she was simply run down than to consider something more serious.
You know when you feel really ill and the thought enters your head that it might be cancer, but then you forget about it. I had one of those moments but I just thought it was something like a bacterial or chest infection. At some point the doctors suggested it might be asthma but really I just thought it was flu that I couldn’t shake off, I never imagined it could be anything worse than that.
These weren't fleeting bugs. Persistent flu-like illness, breathlessness and overwhelming fatigue dragged on for more than six months. Brigita became a regular at the university GP, but her youth led to repeated dismissal - until a visit home took a sharp turn. Her family rushed her to A&E, where doctors identified a large mass between her lungs, suspected to be one of three possible cancers. A scan at the Jack Brignall Centre then provided the vital clarity, confirming Hodgkin lymphoma.
When you hear you have cancer with no family history, you think it’s this massive thing that will kill you. So when I found out I had cancer, I thought that’s it, I’m only 20 and I’m dead. It was really scary.
That moment turned vague worries into a frightening reality Brigita had to face head-on.
Brigita’s story highlights the importance of trusting your instincts and pushing for answers when symptoms persist. If something doesn’t feel right, it’s vital to press your GP for further tests and investigations. Early detection can make the difference between a simple treatment plan and an uphill battle - or between life and death.
What followed was a long and often gruelling period of treatment. Brigita had a series of scans alongside different chemotherapy regimes to monitor how well the cancer was responding. Hers, an aggressive form of the disease, did not respond straight away, meaning more treatment. Throughout this time, repeat scans were essential in guiding decisions and showing her medical team what was happening inside her body.
The scans were set in a relaxing environment, so I often slept throughout.
Brigita persevered. Now cancer free, she’s back completing her law degree with ambitions to become a barrister in human rights, criminal law or technology - using her voice to advocate for others who aren’t heard. In her accompanying video, she shares raw feelings from diagnosis to recovery, reminding everyone that persistence pays, second opinions matter and early advanced scanning can rewrite life’s course.
Brigita’s journey is now at the heart of the Scan for Life campaign - the Daisy Appeal’s mission to raise £3 million for a new digital PET‑CT scanner. By sharing her story, she’s helping the charity raise awareness and funds so that thousands more local patients can access faster, more accurate diagnostics, closer to home. Her experience shows why Scan for Life truly matters: because every scan brings answers, direction, and hope for the future.
The Daisy Appeal’s vision is simple - Scan for Life. Every donation helps create more stories like Brigita’s through earlier, more accurate diagnoses for local people.
Support the appeal and help families look forward with hope and confidence
Simple ways to support the Daisy Appeal
100% of the donations received go to fund vital lifesaving research and provision of medical scanning facilities. The Daisy Appeal is not funded by the NHS and relies upon the generosity of donors to fund its work. Please note all funds are used in full by the charity to further its objectives.
The Hull and East Yorkshire Medical Research Centre
A Charitable Company Limited by Guarantee in England and Wales. Company No. 4017833
Registered office: Daisy Building, Castle Hill Hospital, Castle Road, Cottingham HU16 5JQ Registered Charity No. 1095652
