Lancaster graduate diagnosed with cancer after initially mistaking symptoms for a hangover

A Lancaster graduate was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma after initially mistaking symptoms for a hangover.

Ryan Lloyd initially told his friends he felt hungover before discovering it was cancer after visiting his GP.

When first diagnosed, Ryan was told that it was stage four and that the cancer was in his hips, spleen, spine and neck.

Ryan met his now-wife, Jess Lloyd, at Lancaster University in 2015. The couple spent four years together and started their careers before Ryan was diagnosed with cancer at 22-years-old, just six months after moving in together.

Jess said: “It’s hard to describe what it’s like seeing someone you love going through cancer.

“Not only did Ryan get diagnosed when he was only 22, when we’d only been living together for six months and just started our careers after leaving university, he later relapsed. All you can do is be there for them and support them in whatever way they need but it’s so incredibly difficult to see someone you love go through that.”

Ryan found that his diagnosis came as a relief as it was an explanation as to why he was feeling so ill. Ryan underwent six months of chemotherapy and was given the all clear in January 2020. A year later, the cancer came back which meant Ryan had to have further chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant. 

After Ryan’s second diagnosis, they received support from Teenage Cancer Trust. This is the only UK charity dedicated to providing specialised nursing care and support for 13 to 24-year-olds with cancer.

Due to the Covid restrictions in 2021, Ryan had to comply with the hospital regulations on visitation.

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He said: “Because of the ongoing effects of Covid, only Jenny and Cathy could visit me. I was more reliant on them which made our relationship even stronger. They saw me through my lowest points and helped me keep going. 

Teenage Cancer Trust helped Ryan plan his proposal to Jess on a trip to Wales, two months after he was given the all clear in June 2021.

Talking about his proposal, he said: “Jess was so supportive through my first lot of treatment, and I started thinking about proposing to her. I thought if we can beat this, we can go through anything together.

“Wales is very special to Jess and I as we have friends and family there and had had a great time when we visited before. We planned a holiday there and I popped the question. Our friends and family were in the area on the day I proposed so we were able to celebrate with them afterwards.”

Ryan and Jess were married at Dorfold Hall in August last year.

Jess said: “The day was just one big celebration of our relationship and the amazing family and friends that had got us to this point. We wanted everyone to have a smile on their face the whole day. The singing waiters were definitely a highlight!”

Jess is now backing a campaign called Through Cancer Together, supported by Teenage Cancer Trust, spreading the importance of support for friends and family when a loved one has cancer.

Jess gave some advice for supporting a loved one through cancer, that was to validate how they are feeling instead of telling them everything will be ok, try and include them in plans, and try to provide practical support like making a home cooked meal.

The Teenage Cancer Trust can be found here.