A teenage girl, 13, who was on a vacation in Spain and initially thought she had cold symptoms, was surprised to learn she had a rare type of cancer. Billie Williams, who had recently started her modeling career before the family trip, noticed a lump under her arm in July 2022. Initially attributing it to common cold signs like a cough, she dismissed it as swollen lymph nodes. However, as the lump grew larger, scans revealed that Billie had Hodgkin lymphoma, a less common cancer affecting the lymphatic system.
Expressing her disbelief, Billie shared, “It was so surreal. Even though I had a suspicion it could be cancer, the news was still shocking. I couldn’t believe it. We were all in tears.” Neither Billie nor her family had any prior health concerns before finding the lump while on vacation.
Recounting the discovery, Billie mentioned, “I noticed it while in an inflatable ring, feeling sore as the lump rubbed against it. I then found more lumps in my neck. While we initially thought it was due to raised lymph nodes from past illnesses like Covid and a cold, I had a nagging doubt about cancer.”
Upon returning to the UK, Billie and her mother visited the GP and were advised to monitor the swollen lymph nodes. As the lump continued to grow and cause pain, leading to tears, further examinations were conducted, revealing a mass pressing on Billie’s windpipe.
After the cancer diagnosis, Billie received support from the Teenage Cancer Trust unit at the hospital and started chemotherapy in September 2022, only weeks after the holiday. Despite initial complications with medication, leading to hospitalization and tube-feeding, Billie persevered through blood transfusions and four rounds of chemotherapy.
Following a challenging journey, a scan in late December 2022 showed the cancer had disappeared, allowing Billie to spend Christmas at home and eventually return to school in September 2024. Despite facing insensitive comments from peers about her changed appearance due to treatment, Billie chose homeschooling for a period before regaining her confidence and returning to school.
Reflecting on her experience, Billie shared, “Cancer made me appreciate the small things in life, like being able to shower or go to the shops, which were challenging during treatment. It also taught me to be grateful for everyday tasks like eating and drinking properly.”
Reinstating her resilience, Billie has resumed her modeling career and will participate in the Miss Teen Great Britain competition finals, aiming to inspire others to pursue their dreams and value their self-worth. Encouraging cancer patients, she emphasized the importance of self-confidence and reassured that beauty transcends illness.