A YOUNG woman who put her sore throat down to tonsillitis was diagnosed with a rare blood cancer.

Georgina Masson, from Horsham, dismissed her swallowing problems as an infection after having had tonsillitis several times before.

But after a course of antibiotics, the 24-year-old continued to struggle to swallow and could hardly open her mouth.

The Argus: Georgina Masson dismissed her swallowing problems as an infection after having had tonsillitis several times before Georgina Masson dismissed her swallowing problems as an infection after having had tonsillitis several times before

She was subsequently admitted to hospital, where doctors ran tests and was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia (APML) in August 2021 - after a week in hospital.

Georgina, who had lost her 54-year-old father Paul to cancer when she was 15, said she was shocked by the news, and was rushed to start treatment the following day.

Now nearing the end of her eight cycles of chemotherapy, she is thankful she was able to catch the disease early.

Georgina, who worked as an admin worker in Horsham, said: "I felt so numb when they told me I had cancer. I just thought I had tonsillitis - I had no idea it was so much more serious than that.

"It was terrifying - especially after losing my dad when I was 15. I never expected to get cancer at 24.

The Argus: Georgina Masson with her father Paul, who died of cancer when she was 15 Georgina Masson with her father Paul, who died of cancer when she was 15

"I really thought I had a sore throat, but it turned out to be much worse."

In July last year, Georgina started to notice she had lost some weight but said didn’t think much of it.

"I think I lost about three stone but that didn't seem worrying," she said.

But she began to find her gums would bleed easily and she'd bruise quickly.

"I'd never had nose bleeds or anything but suddenly I was getting them," she added. "I just though the bruises were down to my clumsiness."

After thinking she had tonsillitis, she was given antibiotics to clear up the infection but was still unable to swallow and was taken to hospital.

After a bone marrow biopsy, doctors were able to diagnose Georgina with APML.

"It didn't really sink in at first,” she said. "My mum, Elizabeth was more upset, but I just felt numb.”

Georgina was referred to the Royal Marsden Hospital in Surrey for treatment.

"At first they told me I had the AML strain which is not as rare so they said I could go home and start chemotherapy in a week," she said.

"But on the way home they called to say they looked into it further and needed me to start that night.

"I had only been told I had cancer the day before and suddenly I was starting chemo. It was all so fast."

The Argus: Georgina Masson, from Horsham, in hospital Georgina Masson, from Horsham, in hospital

Georgina started her treatment in August 2021. She has undergone seven cycles so far, and is due to finish in May 2022.

"It has been really hard," she said. "I've suffered really bad headaches from it to the point of having to sit in a completely dark room with an eye mask on.

"But recent results show that I'm almost in complete molecular remission. I'm feeling more positive now that I'm getting through this.

"But there were points where I thought I was going to die. I'm just so lucky I got it early."