'Unbearable' symptom that plagued girl, 15, at night was dismissed by GPs as food allergy - in fact it was cancer

A 15-year-old girl whose 'unbearable' itchy skin was initially mistaken for an allergy was eventually diagnosed with cancer .

In June, Niamh Fisher, from Bonkle, Scotland, first started suffering what she described as 'a constant itch' all over her body.

Her GP suspected a food intolerance or other alleric reaction — and suggested she keep a diary of everything she ate and which products she put on her skin.

But by August, the itching became 'unbearable' — to the point where Niamh could not sleep and she was 'clawing at her skin'.

When a lump suddenly appeared in her neck overnight, she rushed to A&E, where tests revealed the disturbing cause of her symptoms.

A CT scan, biopsy and an ultrasound revealed Niamh had Hodgkin lymphoma — a type of blood cancer — and she is currently undergoing chemotherapy.

Recalling the months prior to the diagnosis, Deborah Connell, 48, wife of Niamh's grandfather Brian, 65 — the couple are her legal guardians — said: 'She hadn't been feeling right for some time.

'She was complaining of it a constant itch — her whole body was itching all the time.

'It was waking her up at night and she was clawing at her skin, so we took her to the GP.

'They took some blood and her folic acid level was low, so she was prescribed supplements for three months.'

This failed to offer any improvement.

Next, the GP suggested Niamh keep a diary of her food intake and beauty products and she stay away from the cat Leyla and dog Beau, suggesting she might be allergic to fur.

However, after her sister Casey noticed a large lump in Niamh's neck, the family took her to A&E, and within weeks she had received the devastating news she had stage 2 Hodgkin lymphoma.

This is a type of cancer that starts in the white blood cells.

A painless swelling in a lymph node is the most common symptoms. This swelling can happen in the neck, armpit or groin, according to Cancer Research UK.

Lymph nodes commonly swell in response to an infection, but usually go back to their normal size after a short time.

However, with Hodgkin lymphoma they often grow slowly and may be there for months or years before they're noticed. Sometimes, however, they grow very quickly.

Around 2,000 Brits are diagnosed with the cancer each year.

Hodgkin lymphoma causes itching in around a third of patients because the immune system releases chemicals called cytokines to fight the cancer.

Cytokines can irritate nerve endings in the skin, leading to persistent itching.

This can occur anywhere on the body, but is most often reported in the hands, feet, or lower legs, especially at night.

Hodgekin lymphoma can also cause shortness of breath and fatigue, due to anemia from a low red blood cell count.

There is an increased risk of infections because of a low white cell count and problems such as nosebleeds and heavy periods.

Speaking about the impact of the diagnosis, Ms Connell said: 'It was the worst feeling in the world because it's totally out of your control.

'You can't do anything, you can't help them, all you can do is hold their hand.'

Doctors told the family Niamh's treatment would involve four 28-day cycles of chemotherapy, of which she has completed two so far.

Ms Connell said: 'Niamh was one of the it girls — she's beautiful, she's stunning, but she doesn't want anyone to see her because her hair's all falling out.

'She's always one with her fake tan, her lashes and her makeup, and she doesn't have that now.

'She can't even put her nails on or nail polish because of the chemotherapy, so that's where she's struggling.

'She's got loads of friends and she doesn't even want to see them, which is heartbreaking.

'Hopefully, it's only going to be four or six months out of life and then she can go back to the person she was, go to her parties and wear fancy dresses.'

Although she has struggled with the change in her appearance and she is missing school and her friends, Ms Connell said she has been 'phenomenal' throughout.

'She looks in the mirror and she doesn't see herself, which is absolutely heartbreaking, but she knows who she is and who she wants to be,' she said.

Ms Connell's daughter Mhaired — Niamh's aunt — died, aged 35, on September 10 following struggles with mental health and alcohol just over a week after Niamh's diagnosis.

In support of Niamh and in memory of Mhaired, Mr and Ms Connell have since launched a GoFundMe page and shaved their heads on September 27 in support of 'Brave the Shave' to raise money for the charity Teenage Cancer Trust.

With more than £5,600 being donated so far, the couple have been 'totally overwhelmed' by people's generosity.

Now their focus is getting Niamh 'back on track' and helping her 'lead a happy and healthy life'.

Niamh said she wanted to issue the following message: 'Trust your gut instinct.

'If anybody thinks that there's something untoward with their body, even the smallest thing, check, check and check again.'

Ms Connell added: 'Everybody has ups and downs, everybody has heartache, everybody has troubles, but you only get one chance in life.

'You dance as hard as you can to the tune that's being played, and you make your life as happy as you possibly can, because it's so short and it's so tough.

'We're trying to dance to get our girl back on track and we'll dance as hard as we can.'