My GP Said I Was 'Fine' — But I Had A Melon-Sized Tumour In My Chest And Acute Leukaemia

My GP asked if I’d tried Head & Shoulders for my scalp lumps. 10 weeks later, I was diagnosed with leukaemia.

You know your body better than anyone – but what happens when no one listens? Welcome to Ms Diagnosed: a HuffPost UK series uncovering the reality of medical gaslighting. With new stats showing that 8 in 10 of women have felt unheard by medical professionals, we’re sharing the stories of seven whose lives were nearly lost to the gap between their symptoms and a system that refused to listen. As the UK introduces Jess’s Rule – a new mandate for GPs to ‘rethink’ after a third visit – we’re exploring why the medical system is still failing women and how we can start to fix it.

“Have you tried Head & Shoulders shampoo?,” asked my GP. ‘We think you might have a scalp infection.’

I stared at her, gobsmacked. I had between 20 and 50 hard, pea-sized lumps that kept appearing on my scalp, as well as horrible flaking. I knew it was more than a scalp infection.

“I’ve had a dry scalp all my life,” I said, eventually, “I use Head & Shoulders all the time.”

“Hmmm,” mused the GP. “Well, we’ll prescribe you some shampoo that will hopefully get rid of the lumps.”

I didn’t have a scalp infection. I had Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL); and this was diagnosed following a trip to A&E, after I’d gone to my GP surgery every week for ten weeks to no avail.

My symptoms started in July 2021, when I was 26. I’d had Covid for two weeks – then, things only got worse.

For a start, there were those lumps developing on my scalp; as well as down the back of my ear, down my neck and in my armpits.

I was losing a lot of hair; I had terrible night sweats; I was sick a lot;........

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