A FAMILY from Evesham are raising awareness of the symptoms of Hodgkin Lymphoma after their daughter was found to have the cancer more than a year after being misdiagnosed.

Ellie Moss, 21, was sent to see a dermatologist by a doctor after she noticed an unusual rash on her legs which wouldn’t go away.

The dermatologist raised the possibility the rash could be a symptom of scabies or a lichen planus rash. During her final appointment, it was thought she might be suffering from an autoimmune disease.

Following that appointment, the family went on holiday.

While at the airport on the way home, Ellie noticed a lump on her neck.

The family went straight to the doctors, who confirmed she had a four-centimetre swollen lymph node on her neck.

After being sent straight to the hospital for biopsies and tests, it was confirmed that Ellie had stage 3 Hodgkin Lymphoma on December 4, 2019 - around ‘12 to 14 months’ after Ellie first went to the doctors to check the rash, said her mum Nadine Moss.

The cancer has now progressed to stage 4.

Nadine said: “Ellie initially had no other symptoms than a rash on her leg.

“We are now actively trying to make people aware on the Hodgkin Lymphoma website, because this rash is actually quite a common symptom.

“She had six cycles of ABVD chemotherapy which ended in July 2020.”

Ellie contracted Covid-19 in the summer, forcing her to pause treatment as doctors weren’t sure what impact the virus would have if she was being treated with chemotherapy.

After recovering from virus after only having suffered with minor symptoms, Ellie resumed treatment.

“The treatment managed to get rid of the tumours in her spleen and neck, although there was still some residue in her neck,” said Nadine.

“It didn’t work for the tumour in her chest, which grew larger; the cancer is quite aggressive.”

Ellie is currently having GDP chemotherapy to fight the cancer, and will have a more aggressive type of chemotherapy called LEAM after Christmas.

Nadine said CT scans show the current round of chemotherapy is working, and Ellie is also set to have a stem cell transplant after Christmas.

Ellie’s dad Thomas Moss will be cycling the canal system from London to Lancaster, a distance of approximately 360-400 miles to raise money for the Teenage Cancer Trust.

He will be starting on Saturday, February 6, 2021. So far, the family have already raised more than £2,500 for the Teenage Cancer Trust who fund the Young Person Unit at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, where Ellie continues to get her treatment. Thomas is hoping to turn £2,500 into £5,000 when he takes on his challenge in the new year.

Ellie said: “I am incredibly thankful to all those who have and continue to help me throughout my treatment, and share my story to raise awareness of Hodgkin lymphoma. To everyone who has donated it means so much and your support has been overwhelming. The £5,000 target was only a figure of our imagination and to have surpassed half of that already is really incredible.”

To donate, visit bit.ly/2KnR34p