Student’s ‘fresher’s flu’ dismissed as heartbreaking cancer diagnosis
Warning: This article contains discussion of cancer that some readers may find distressing.
A student who was diagnosed with cancer was at first dismissed as having hayfever and 'fresher's flu'.
Jasmin Raven, 22, first went to see her GP in September 2023 after she discovered a pea sized lump in her neck and a waxy ear.
After initially being dismissed, she then battled with them to do a biopsy that revealed she had cancer. After undergoing an ultrasound, medics confirmed Jasmine's lymph nodes were enlarged and told this was most likely a result of 'freshers' flu'.
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The term is used to describe a wave of cold and bugs that often go around the student population during the first year of university.
Jasmine, who was a third year student nurse at the time, said her timetable meant she only attended university once a week and said she never went out partying.
Initially Jasmine put her symptoms down to allergies or hayfever, as she began to experience hearing loss in one of her ears. Yet a determined Jasmine was focused on finding out why she was feeling ill, and she insisted that doctors take a biopsy of the lump in her neck.
The result left her horrified as it confirmed cancer was present.
Jasmine, who lives near Reading, Berkshire, was then put on a course of treatment including a course of chemotherapy to help treat it. She is also due to start a course of proton beam therapy in London next month.
Jasmine, who is mum to two-year-old daughter Esme, feels frustrated doctors did not spot the warning signs earlier - and instead kept offering excuses such as 'freshers' flu'.
Jasmine said: "It was around six months between finding the lump and getting the diagnosis which was frustrating because if they'd scanned and taken the biopsy earlier, I could've started treatment a lot sooner.
"I came to them with a lump that wasn't going away which should've been investigated more. I think because I'm young, they just didn't take it seriously or consider the possibility that it could be cancer.
"I came with one lump and by the time I started treatment it was five or six."
Jasmine added: "They said at one point 'oh it's probably just freshers' flu'. I said I don't live in uni halls and only go in once a week for lectures. I don't go out partying or clubbing ever. I'm not living the student lifestyle.
"I knew there was no way it could be freshers' flu. They thought it was viral and nothing concerning.
"I was referred to ENT but I had to keep ringing up to ask when my appointment would be. When I saw the consultants, they said they'd send me for a biopsy.
"It was a waiting game after that - a lot of calling up and asking what's happening. At this point, I'd lost hearing in one of my ears and still now it's gone - I didn't know it's one of the symptoms of the cancer."
Concerned her hearing loss was ear-wax related, Jasmine visited a wax removal clinic who referred her for further testing after noticing her 'membrane was bulging'. However, Jasmine said this was dismissed as 'allergies' by her GP during an appointment and there was thought to be no link between her ear and the lump in her neck.
Jasmine said: "I wasn't suffering any other allergy symptoms. This had just come out of nowhere. But they said it was probably hayfever.
"I asked if this could be related to the lumps but they said no.
"Being part of the medical profession, I have a bit more understanding of these things. I knew full well it wasn't hayfever."
The results of Jasmine's biopsy and a follow-up scan revealed the mum had nasopharyngeal cancer - a type of head and neck cancer that starts in the tissues of the nasopharynx.
Tests showed Jasmine's cancer had also spread to her lymph nodes, causing lumps to appear around her neck.
Jasmine said: "Of course thoughts of not being here crosses your mind with a cancer diagnosis. It's not often you have to write a will at 22 and collect my eggs for future children. I'm just trying to stay positive for the future.
"I'd say to other people: keep asking for investigation to make sure it's not anything sinister. Most times it's not, but it's always good to get everything checked out."
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact Macmillan’s Cancer Support Line on 0808 808 00 00, 8am–8pm seven days a week.
Niamh Spence