A routine haircut took an unexpected turn for Dublin hairdresser Shona Joyce, then 22, when a client, who was a doctor, spotted a suspicious lump in her armpit. Despite showing no other symptoms, the client urged Shona to see her GP, leading to hospital tests, including an ultrasound and biopsy.

The diagnosis was life-altering: Shona had nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma, a cancer affecting the immune system. Recalling the shock, Shona said: "I'm a really positive person, but it was a shock for everyone, and I couldn't have gone through it without my amazing family and friends."

Doctors told Shona she needed lymphadenectomy surgery to remove the affected lymph node, followed by eight gruelling rounds of chemotherapy, which proved particularly tough due to her small stature. "Because I'm so small and the treatments were so strong, it took me back," she shared.

However, Shona's close-knit circle provided unwavering support, giving her the strength to cope. "I do have such a good circle behind me," she said, highlighting her auntie's coffee outings, her mum's chemo accompaniment, and nurse Orla's nightly injections, calling her a "My auntie took me out for coffees, my mum came with me for every chemo, and a nurse and family friend, Orla, came up every night for 14 nights to do the injections, who was a lifesaver."

Shona, supported by her community, faced her cancer diagnosis with remarkable strength. She shared: "Everyone chipped in, and I never dwelled on the diagnosis too much. My mindset was that I was going to keep going no matter what.", reports Dublin Live.

After enduring eight rounds of chemotherapy, Shona had a PET/CT scan to assess the success of the treatment. The results on February 11 brought joy as she learned she was in remission, though she knew she'd need ongoing scans every few months to check for any recurrence.

Expressing her relief, Shona said: "When they announced I was in remission, I felt an enormous sense of relief. I'm slowly going back to work, and I have a few things planned for coming up, which I'm looking forward to."

Determined to make a difference, Shona is now focused on raising awareness about her condition. She added: "I'm trying to raise as much awareness as possible and hopefully save someone's life the way that doctor saved my life."

Highlighting the critical nature of early detection, Shona urged: "I want people to get checked out; it is so important to do so. As I was so young, they said if it wasn't caught when it did, it would've been terminal."

Nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL) is described by Lymphoma Action as a rare, slow-growing type of Hodgkin lymphoma, where lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell, multiply uncontrollably. The charity reveals that NLPHL is a rare condition, affecting around 220 people in the UK annually. It can strike at any age but is most common in those aged between 30 and 50, as well as children and young adults.

Interestingly, NLPHL is more prevalent in males than females, although scientists are yet to understand why this gender disparity exists. In most NLPHL cases, there is no identifiable cause. The primary symptom of NLPHL is the appearance of a lump or multiple lumps. These typically manifest in the neck, armpits or groin area, but can also occur elsewhere.

These lumps are due to lymphoma cells accumulating in your lymph nodes, causing swelling. Usually, these swollen lymph nodes are not painful.