An Ohio woman who spent two years seeking answers for a persistent cough was eventually diagnosed with stage 4 Hodgkin’s lymphoma at age 22. Lauren Speelman says her symptoms were repeatedly attributed to asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia and lingering COVID-19 effects before testing revealed cancer in late 2021. After undergoing chemotherapy while finishing college, she was declared cancer-free in 2023 and now advocates for patients to push for answers when symptoms persist.
