> At a Glance
> – A dull shoulder ache Allie Reece blamed on her childhood bed turned out to be Hodgkin’s lymphoma
> – Doctors discovered an orange-size chest mass after an April 2025 ER visit
> – Reece now chronicles chemo on TikTok, rallying thousands of supporters
> – Why it matters: A niggling pain young adults ignore can mask life-changing illness
A recent college graduate who waved off collarbone soreness as a bad-sleep kink is now sharing her cancer journey online after a shock diagnosis at 23.
From Dorm Bed to ER Bed
After moving back to Canton, Georgia, in December 2024, Allie Reece slept in her narrow twin bed and chalked up intermittent shoulder pain to awkward positioning. The ache flared after golf outings or walks but always vanished by morning.
In April 2025, a stabbing pain under her shoulder blade jolted her awake two weeks post-round. An ER visit for a suspected blood clot instead revealed a chest mass the size of an orange.
Diagnosis Day
Allie Reece recalls the moment doctors said lymphoma:
> “I’ll never forget that first moment – it was disbelief. You hear the word ‘mass,’ and your mind immediately goes to the worst-case scenario.”
Further testing confirmed Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Building Community Online
Reece began posting chemo updates on TikTok under @big_.al, quickly amassing thousands of followers who swap encouragement and tips.
Key Takeaways
- A vague, recurring pain led to an orange-size cancer discovery
- Hodgkin’s lymphoma is treatable but needs swift medical attention
- Reece’s TikTok chronicle offers real-time support to peers
Reece hopes her story pushes other young adults to act when “small” pains persist.
