A 28-year-old mother of two discovered she had stage 2 Hodgkin lymphoma after wine triggered stabbing neck pain.
At a Glance
- Hollie Thursby felt sharp neck pain only when drinking wine after giving birth in December 2024
- Doctors blamed hormones until a neck lump led to scans and a stage 2 blood-cancer diagnosis in October 2025
- The rare alcohol-reaction symptom has been documented in only one other patient by her specialist
- Why it matters: Early recognition of unusual symptoms can speed diagnosis of Hodgkin lymphoma, which is highly treatable when caught early
Hollie Thursby, from Sunderland, England, had just welcomed her son Jack when a glass of wine began to produce an unexpected reaction. “After I had Jack, I’d have a couple of glasses of wine with a meal. I would get pain in my neck and behind my ear on the left side,” she told Kennedy News and Media, via the Daily Mail.
The pain was selective: prosecco sometimes hurt, lager never did, but wine “would really, really hurt.” Alongside the neck discomfort, Thursby battled relentless itching and exhaustion. “I was unbearably tired, I would need to have a nap during the day which is not particularly normal… My legs were unbearably itchy.”
Misdiagnosed as Hormonal
Attributing the fatigue to life with a toddler and newborn, she visited her GP in January 2025. Clinics dismissed her symptoms as hormonal shifts after childbirth. “I listened to what the GP said and obviously didn’t think anything else of it,” she recalled.
Months passed until she noticed a lump on her neck and returned for further tests. A CT scan and biopsy followed.
Cancer Confirmation
In October 2025 specialists delivered the “heartbreaking” diagnosis of stage 2 Hodgkin lymphoma. The American Cancer Society lists swollen lymph nodes, fever, night sweats and lethargy among classic signs; alcohol-related pain is less common.
“When I spoke to the blood-cancer doctor, she said she’s been working for 17 years and has only seen it one other time,” Thursby said. “But pain when you drink alcohol is actually a known side effect of Hodgkin lymphoma. It’s something about the acidity in the wine.”
Treatment and Family Fears
The primary-school teacher began chemotherapy in November 2025 and will continue treatments for several months. Losing her own mother to a blood disorder in childhood heightens her anxiety about her sons’ future.
“Not being able to look after the boys is the worst thing about it all,” she said. “I’m worried that I’m dying and that I’m going to leave them. I grew up without a mum and it was horrendous; I can’t do that to the boys.”
Looking Ahead
With a clear treatment plan now in place, Thursby leans on family support and focuses on recovery. “We’re all devastated but we all know now and we’ve got a treatment plan, which is what we need. I’m just doing everything I can to get better for them. I keep telling myself this is only temporary, I just need to keep going.”
