'Doctors thought itchy lump was ringworm or a tattoo allergy - it was cancer and I've paid £3k on travel for treatment'
An electrician, who initially thought an itchy lump was either ringworm or a tattoo ink allergy, discovered it was actually cancer after spending thousands on travel for treatment.
In February 2020, Ben Collins, 24, from Colchester, Essex, noticed a lump on his back that was itchy and red, resembling a "gnat bite".
Initially, doctors suspected it might be ringworm or an allergic reaction to his tattoos, but after several biopsies, a lymphoma – a cancer of the lymphatic system – diagnosis was confirmed in March 2021.
READ MORE:Pregnant woman who died after 17-storey fall is named as her baby fights for life in hospital
READ MORE:Woman, 27, dies after being stabbed near football stadium station
Since then, he has undergone seven rounds of radiotherapy to "blast" the lumps, with the journeys to and from Guy’s Hospital in London costing him and his family around £3,000 over three years.
Currently on an observation period, Ben has found some new lumps on his lower back which may require treatment, but he remains determined to stay positive and "get (his) life back".
Alongside the charity Young Lives vs Cancer, Ben is advocating for better financial support towards travel costs for young people with cancer and their families to help manage the "astronomical" cost of living.
"Some people have to travel for hours to get to a specialist hospital and some families don’t have the money to be able to do that," Ben told PA Real Life. "It’s surprising how many people can’t afford to get to cancer treatment."
Before the Covid-19 pandemic struck in February 2020, Ben noticed a lump in his right breast which, following a biopsy, turned out to be "just a fatty lump". However, doctors also spotted another lump on his back, initially thought to be benign, leading to a dermatology referral.
Unfortunately, the pandemic caused delays, and it wasn't until February 2021 that Ben's condition was further investigated. Describing the back lump, Ben recounted: "It was probably about a centimetre in diameter, so it looked like a gnat bite or a spot. It was red and raised and it was itchy as well."
Initially, one doctor suspected ringworm – a common fungal infection – and prescribed steroid creams, but Ben's symptoms persisted. Another doctor proposed it might be an allergic reaction to his tattoos.
"I contacted my tattoo artist, asking him to send me all the ingredients that were in the ink that he uses, and then I forwarded that to the doctor," Ben explained. This ruled out any connection to his tattoos, although the suggestion was unexpected.
After enduring the persistent lump, Ben underwent two biopsies at Colchester Hospital, which led to a lymphoma diagnosis in March 2021, when he was just 21 years old.
Reflecting on the diagnosis, Ben said: "It was awful because I was expecting it to be an allergy, an allergic reaction to some tattoos that I’d had – that was the worst case scenario and they might have to cut out some tattoos."
Ben shared his harrowing experience: "I was told: ‘You’ll essentially have the lymphoma for life, unless it gets bad enough that we have to treat you with chemotherapy’."
He recounted the shock of facing such a diagnosis at a young age, saying, "At that age, you don’t expect to even contemplate a diagnosis like that... and when you hear the word ‘cancer’, instantly you always think the worst."
He was later referred to Guy’s Hospital where further tests confirmed his need for radiotherapy. Ben described how he initially "blocked everything out" and the reality of his condition felt "surreal" for weeks.
The stark reminder of his situation came while watching The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer with his girlfriend, as adverts repeated the statistic: "My girlfriend and I were sitting in bed, watching The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer, and every single advert was, ‘One in two of us will be affected by cancer in our lifetime’. It really hit hard at that point."
Ben began his first round of treatment in June 2021, which involved targeting the cancerous areas with radiation, causing them to "shrink and disappear". Despite finding the process "daunting", especially upon seeing the "big machine" for the first time, he noted that each session lasted only a few minutes.
"You don’t feel anything when you’re having the treatment, but a few days later, it will be warm to the touch," he explained, adding that "After a couple of weeks, the areas will get red and they constantly come up tanned."
Ben, from Colchester, has undergone an additional six rounds of radiotherapy – making it seven in total – which meant a daily trek to London for treatment each week. Young Lives vs Cancer points out that young people and their families face an extra £700 monthly on average for expenses like travel, food, and clothing during treatment.
A 2024 report by the charity highlighted healthcare travel cost schemes but noted that barriers prevent most young cancer patients from accessing this vital support. The charity is urging the Government to set up a £10 million Young Cancer Patient Travel Fund to aid families with travel costs for treatment.
Ben shared that the expense of train tickets for himself and his mother, along with petrol and parking fees, "easily" surpasses £400 for each treatment session. Earlier this year, he faced over £1,000 in costs for two-and-a-half weeks of treatment, estimating around £3,000 spent on travel so far.
"I’ve got a credit card that I’ve had to put all the costs on and then you slowly pay it off, but some people can’t afford to do that," he explained. "So, some people either have to go without the treatment or they might not be able to put the heating on that week."
Ben shared that his diagnosis "plays" on his mind as new lumps continue to emerge, but he's chosen to stay upbeat and has even embraced running, completing several Nuclear Races and the 2023 Ipswich Half Marathon. He mentioned that becoming more "active" has been instrumental in his losing four stone since May – a result of shedding the weight he put on from comfort eating post-diagnosis.
Now, he's committed to maintaining his health and wellbeing. Ben's Young Lives vs Cancer social worker, Abby, has been a pillar of support, securing financial grants for him and organising special experiences, such as a memorable trip to Wimbledon.
As Ben gears up for his next Tough Mudder challenge in November, he's determined to "prove" to himself and others that it's possible to reach your goals despite adversity, and he's keen to raise greater awareness about lymphoma.
Young Lives vs Cancer social workers assist young individuals like Ben by facilitating access to financial benefits and providing grants to manage additional expenses.
For more information about the charity, please visit younglivesvscancer.org.uk.