Support Lymphoma Out Loud on Their Mission to #BeBodyBrave This May

Every 27 minutes, a person is diagnosed with lymphoma, a form of blood cancer. It's the most common cancer in teenagers and young people, but despite this, awareness of the disease is incredibly low. That's where Lymphoma Out Loud come in - they want to educate, empower and ensure that everyone is aware of signs and symptoms of lymphoma, with their message of #BeBodyBrave.

History of the Charity - Charlotte's Story

The charity was founded by Charlotte, who was diagnosed with incurable Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma at the age of 26. She made various trips to the GP and A&E during the two years before she was diagnosed, experiencing abdominal pain, exhaustion and severe bloating. Despite her pleas, she was given medication and told that she was "too young for anything to be seriously wrong."

Charlotte's sister later dragged her to her local GP, where she was referred for further tests. It was then confirmed that Charlotte had advanced and progressive lymphoma, and she had in fact been living with it for the past two years, to the point where the cancer had spread to the point where it was now incurable.

What Do Lymphoma Out Loud Do?

Lymphoma is the most common cancer in people under 30, and today, Charlotte and her team at Lymphoma Out Loud are on a mission not only to ensure that everyone is aware of its signs and symptoms, but also to empower young people to have the confidence to see their GP if something doesn't feel right. 

Lymphoma Out Loud provides a network to offer information and support to young people living with lymphoma and their family members. 

#BeBodyBrave

Lymphoma Out Loud wants to encourage individuals to know more about their bodies and have the confidence to visit their GP if they feel something isn't right. While symptoms of lymphoma can differ depending on the type and where it is located in the body, the most common can be:

• Itching
• Swelling
• Night sweats
• Weight loss
• Extreme tiredness

Many of the symptoms can be associated with less serious illnesses, such as the flu. While this can make lymphoma harder to diagnose, by being aware of our body and the signs to look out for, lymphoma can be detected much earlier, meaning there's a higher chance of a quicker diagnosis, treatment and survival.

How You Can Get Involved

For the month of May, we're supporting Lymphoma Out Loud on their mission to #BeBodyBrave. They're one of our four charities this month competing to win 20% of our profits, and you can help them on their mission to encourage, ensure and empower by casting your vote for them today. 

Find out more about the charity by visiting their website: https://www.lymphomaoutloud.org.