A teenager who felt tired and short of breath was told he most likely had the flu late last year, but ended up being diagnosed with stage 4 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma — a blood cancer that starts in the lymphatic system.
Hunter Brady, from the Tampa area, started to feel tired and weak late last year, then he developed aches and pains and a low-grade fever, according to a WFTS report.
His cousin wrote on his YouCaring page that his pediatrician told him to “let the virus run its course.”
“I just kept sweating a lot, like night sweats,” Hunter told WFTS. “As it carried on, I felt worse,” he said.
When his symptoms progressed, his family became concerned and took him to the hospital.
“We weren’t aware at the time his right lung was collapsed and his left lung was 30 percent collapsed [which is why] he was having trouble breathing,” Hunter’s mom, Cheryl Brady, told WFTS.
Scans and tests confirmed the 16-year-old had Hodgkin’s. He had a blood transfusion, a bone marrow biopsy and surgeries to drain the fluid from his lungs and heart.
According to the American Cancer Society, patients with Hunter’s type of lymphoma show signs of weight loss, fever or night sweats. The most common symptom is a swollen lymph node, which can look like a lump under the skin.
While the family was dealing with this life-threatening disease, Hunter was targeted by a cyberbully.
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SOURCE: Fox News, Melanie Dadourian
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