A LOCAL survivor of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma has defied the odds to finish her medical studies and become a mother.

Emily Ezeka, 34, of Stoke, has spoken about her experience for Lymphatic Cancer Awareness Week.

She was diagnosed with the disease in February 2006 after a lump developed above her collarbone.

At the time she was studying the first year of her medical degree at St George’s University, London and had recently got married.

“I was getting tonsillitis and ear infections but no specific symptoms and kept forgetting to mention the lump to my GP.”

Eventually Emily told her doctor and was referred to a consultant, but she did not realise the urgency of the situation.

“It didn’t occur to me that it would be cancer, but I was starting to come home at lunchtime and fall asleep on the sofa which I hadn’t done before.”

Following a biopsy she underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy before a PET scan confirmed the lymphoma was inactive.

She was warned that the treatment could have lasting repercussions including susceptibility to breast cancer, infertility and an early menopause “When they told me I was infertile I became obsessed with having children.

“I wanted to freeze my eggs but there was no time.”

Fortunately, the prognosis was wrong and Emily gave birth to her eldest son, Kemji, in the Christmas of 2007 and her younger son, Tobechi in 2009.

She went on to graduate with distinction in 2011 and is now a GP in training working in Andover.

“It does change your outlook on life and I hope it has made me a better doctor.

“Ill health changes a lot of things, you lose friends, money, your independence and it affects your career and your relationships.

“I would advise anybody who has a lump that is growing to get it checked out”.