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A tiny itchy ‘gnat bite’ I mistook for a tattoo allergy turned out to be the first warning sign of silent killer
Read on to find out other signs of devastating condition Ben was diagnosed with
A MAN received a devastating diagnosis after being told his an itchy lump on his back could be ringworm or a tattoo allergy.
In February 2020, Ben Collins, 24, who lives in Colchester, Essex, said doctors found a lump on his back, which was itchy and red and looked like a “gnat bite”.
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Doctors initially thought it might be ringworm or an allergic reaction to his tattoos.
But after several biopsies, Ben was finally diagnosed with lymphoma – cancer of the lymphatic system – in March 2021.
He has since undergone seven rounds of radiotherapy to “blast” the lumps and is currently on an observation period.
Ben recently spotted new lumps on his lower back, which may need to be treated, but he is determined to stay positive and “get [his] life back”.
Read more on lymphoma
The electrician discovered a lump in his chest in February 2020, but a biopsy found it was “just a fatty lump”.
Doctors subsequently noticed another lump on his back, which they believed to be benign, and he was referred to dermatology – but his appointment was delayed until February 2021 due to the pandemic.
Describing the lump on his back, Ben said: “It was probably about a centimetre in diameter, so it looked like a gnat bite or a spot.
“It was red and raised and it was itchy as well.”
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Ben explained that one doctor thought it could be ringworm – a fungal infection – and he was prescribed steroid creams, but this did not improve his symptoms.
He said another doctor then suggested it could be an allergic reaction to his tattoos.
People with tattoos have a 21% higher risk of lymphoma blood cancer - even if they're tiny, study suggests
“I contacted my tattoo artist, asking him to send me all the ingredients that were in the ink that he uses, and then I forwarded that to the doctor,” Ben said.
“That crossed out any lines from it being related to the tattoos, but that was quite a surprising one when they said it could be related to my tattoos.”
Ben then had two biopsies at Colchester Hospital after the lump faile to go away and he was diagnosed with lymphoma in March 2021, aged just 21.
“It was awful because I was expecting it to be an allergy, an allergic reaction to some tattoos that I’d had – that was the worst case scenario and they might have to cut out some tattoos,” Ben said.
“I was told: ‘You’ll essentially have the lymphoma for life, unless it gets bad enough that we have to treat you with chemotherapy’.
“At that age, you don’t expect to even contemplate a diagnosis like that… and when you hear the word ‘cancer’, instantly you always think the worst.”
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Ben was then referred to Guy’s Hospital six weeks later, where he had further biopsies to confirm his diagnosis, and he was told he would need to undergo radiotherapy.
He explained that he “blocked everything out” initially and his diagnosis felt “surreal” for weeks.
“My girlfriend and I were sitting in bed, watching The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer, and every single advert was, ‘One in two of us will be affected by cancer in our lifetime’,” he said.
“It really hit hard at that point.”
Ben's first round of treatment began in June 2021, where the affected areas were “blasted with radiation” to make the cancer to “shrink and disappear”.
He said it was “daunting”, especially when he first saw the “big machine”, but the treatment only lasted around six minutes – and every subsequent treatment has lasted two to six minutes on each affected area.
“You don’t feel anything when you’re having the treatment, but a few days later, it will be warm to the touch,” Ben explained.
“After a couple of weeks, the areas will get red and they constantly come up tanned.”
'Astronomical' costs
Since then Ben has had a further six rounds of radiotherapy – seven in total – and this has involved a long journey from his home in Colchester to London every day for a week each time.
Altogether, the journeys to and from Guy’s Hospital in London have cost him and his family around £3,000 over three years.
Along with the charity Young Lives vs Cancer, Ben is calling for better financial support towards travel costs for young people with cancer and their families to help with the “astronomical” cost of living.
“Some people have to travel for hours to get to a specialist hospital and some families don’t have the money to be able to do that,” Ben told PA Real Life.
“It’s surprising how many people can’t afford to get to cancer treatment.”
What are the signs of lymphoma?
LYMPHOMA is a term for cancer that starts in the lymph system - a network of vessels and glands that spans your body.
There are two main kinds of lymphoma – Hodgkin Lymphoma and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.
Lymphoma can cause many different symptoms, depending on which type of lymphoma it is and where it develops in the body.
The most typical signs are:
- Swollen lymph nodes, such as in the neck, armpit or groin area
- Night sweats
- Extreme tiredness
- Itching
- Unexplained weight loss
- Fever
- Excessive bleeding, such as nosebleeds, heavy periods and spots of blood under the skin
Other signs of lymphoma in a more localised area include:
- Swelling of the stomach, loss of appetite and other abdominal symptoms
- Coughing, shortness of breath, or chest pain
According to Young Lives vs Cancer, young people and their families have to pay an extra £700 a month on average on costs like travel, food and clothing while going through treatment.
A report from the charity earlier in 2024 said there were healthcare travel cost schemes, but “a range of barriers to receiving this support mean the vast majority of children and young people with cancer miss out on this much needed assistance”.
The charity is calling on the Government to introduce a £10 million Young Cancer Patient Travel Fund so that young people and families have the support they need to travel to their treatment.
Ben said it “easily” costs him more than £400 every time he has a round of treatment - he said with train tickets for him and his mother and petrol and parking costs.
“I’ve got a credit card that I’ve had to put all the costs on and then you slowly pay it off, but some people can’t afford to do that,” he said.
“So, some people either have to go without the treatment or they might not be able to put the heating on that week.”
Staying positive
Ben said his diagnosis “plays” on his mind as lumps continue to appear, but he has tried to remain positive and has even taken up running, completing several Nuclear Races and the 2023 Ipswich Half Marathon.
Being more “active” has helped him lose four stone from May this year – weight he gained from comfort eating after his diagnosis – and he is now continuing to focus on his health and wellbeing.
Ben’s Young Lives vs Cancer social worker Abby has also helped him with financial grants and arranged special trips and days out, including tickets to Wimbledon, which he said was “absolutely amazing”.
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As Ben looks ahead to his next Tough Mudder run in November, he wants to “prove” to himself and others that you can achieve your goals and he wants to help raise more awareness of lymphoma.
social workers help young people, like Ben, to access financial benefits and provide grants to help with these extra costs.
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I just wanted relief from the itching - but it turned out to be cancer
By Christine Jennings, Production Editor
I couldn't understand what was happening to me when I started itching all over.
I was constantly scratching and even had my husband attack my feet - which I hate being touched - with a hairbrush.
Friends and family tried giving me advice, such as "change your washing powder" or "use body cream".
Deep inside I knew these wouldn't help - but I didn't know what would.
After two months of agonising itching, in which it didn't even occur to me to seek medical help, I was sitting at my desk at work when I just brushed my hand against my neck and shoulder.
Was that a lump?
I rushed to the ladies but couldn't see anything, so I moved my hand over the place again.
I could definitely feel something - and when I pushed my shoulders back, I could see a swelling.
Probably swollen glands, I thought.
With the constant itching and now a lump, I finally decided to head to the doctors.
Once there, I told my GP about the constant itching.
New cat, she asked?
Yes, but I'm sure it's not that.
Have you changed your washing powder?
No.
As I felt her interest waning, I blurted out: "Oh and I've found what I think is a lump on my neck."
Straight away I could see a change in her, and within a week I was in hospital having scans and blood tests - only to be told it was lymphoma.
I'd never even heard of it and certainly didn't know it was cancer.
Within days I was at hospital for my first chemotherapy - and was so excited that I would finally get relief from my itching.
I had no idea of the gruelling effects rounds of chemo would have in the months ahead.
Thankfully, the itching did stop and after six months of chemo for Hodgkin's lymphoma, plus two more additional months of treatment, I was given the all-clear.
Now, over twenty years have passed and I'm still cancer-free - but the tiniest of itches can make me anxious
My advice to anyone with the same symptoms is to see your GP straight away.
And be persistent. My GP's swift actions saved my life.
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