{"id":188419,"date":"2025-10-09T16:17:12","date_gmt":"2025-10-09T16:17:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/188419\/"},"modified":"2025-10-09T16:17:12","modified_gmt":"2025-10-09T16:17:12","slug":"life-of-fit-22-year-old-law-student-is-changed-in-an-instant-when-her-doctor-noticed-something-strange-during-a-simple-medical-procedure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/188419\/","title":{"rendered":"Life of fit 22-year-old law student is changed in an instant when her doctor noticed something strange during a simple medical procedure"},"content":{"rendered":"

By NICHOLAS WILSON, NEWS REPORTER, AUSTRALIA<\/a> <\/p>\n

Published: 09:02 EDT, 9 October 2025 | Updated: 09:49 EDT, 9 October 2025 <\/p>\n

A 22-year-old law student has opened up about the terrifying moment a simple medical procedure returned a life-changing\u00a0diagnosis.\u00a0<\/p>\n

South Australia<\/a> woman Lucinda Cleland underwent surgery to remove what doctor’s believed was a benign cyst earlier this year after experiencing chest pains.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Ms Cleland said she had experienced the same chest pains two year’s before, but the cyst suddenly began to shrink before she needed to get a biopsy.\u00a0<\/p>\n

When the ping pong ball-sized cyst ballooned in size again, the keen runner wasted no time in undergoing surgery on the advice of her doctor.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

One week later, her doctor called to tell her she had been diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma\u00a0– a rare and potentially life-threatening form of blood cancer.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

‘I think I said in the hospital, ‘I’ll be damned if this is cancerous,’ because I was so sure it wasn’t going to be and all the health professionals were pretty sure,’ Ms Cleland told The Advertiser<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

‘But I was very shocked, I had no idea this was going to come.’<\/p>\n

The diagnosis risked upending Ms Cleland’s high hopes for the future, including pursuing a career in law with her graduation not far off.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Lucinda <\/p>\n

Lucinda Cleland (pictured) was diagnosed with a rare blood cancer one week after undergoing surgery for what doctors believed was a benign cyst<\/p>\n

\"Ms <\/p>\n

Ms Cleland, a keen runner, is gearing up to take part in a fundraising half-marathon in the SA beachside community of Victor Harbour<\/p>\n

‘Being that it was supposed to be the home run of my studies and beginning a career that I really wanted to start,’ she said.<\/p>\n

‘I was just petrified that my life was going to go to s*** because the big C-word is not what you want to hear at 22.’<\/p>\n

Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a highly-treatable form of cancer<\/a>, with a survival rate of about 90 per cent five year’s out from diagnosis.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But treatment is not without it’s own challenges. Ms Cleland was particularly worried about potential hair loss and the costs of chemotherapy drug Dacarbazine.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Ms Cleland has so far completed four rounds of chemotherapy and is preparing to undergo radiation treatment next month.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In her spare time, the 22-year-old is preparing to take part in the Victor Harbour Run, a half-marathon event about an hour’s drive south of Adelaide.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Friends have inundated Ms Cleland with messages of support on social media, praising the bright and kind soul for her courage.<\/p>\n

‘You my darling, are amazing’, one woman wrote. ‘Strongest, most beautiful woman’, another added.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Ms <\/p>\n

Ms Cleland will be competing in the run to raise funds for cancer research and her treatment<\/p>\n

Encouraged by her friends, Ms Cleland has launched a GoFundMe<\/a>\u00a0campaign to raise money for her treatment.\u00a0<\/p>\n

As of Thursday, the campaign has so far raised $15,542 towards a $16,000 target from 224 individual donations.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Any leftover funds will go towards Lymphoma Australia to support specialised healthcare professionals, patients and their families.\u00a0<\/p>\n

‘Thanks for supporting our efforts in raising money for Australia’s #1 blood cancer!’ the campaign page reads.<\/p>\n

To donate, a link to Ms Cleland’s GoFundMe page can be found here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Daily Mail has contacted Ms Cleland for further comment.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

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