'Doctors said I needed moisturiser but I knew it was cancer at 26'

'Doctors said I needed moisturiser but I knew it was cancer at 26'The extreme symptom had lasted for monthsCommentsNewsNeil Shaw Assistant Editor (Money and Lifestyle)06:50, 22 Apr 2026Updated 06:51, 22 Apr 2026View 5 ImagesSumbul Ari was itching every nightA woman says she diagnosed herself with cancer at 26 after doctors said her extremely itchy skin 'just needed moisturiser'. Sumbul Ari took matters into her own hands after struggling with extreme symptoms for 11 months straight, where she was “itching herself to death”.‌The 26-year-old said it felt like things were crawling in her skin, with the extreme itching causing her to not get a full night's sleep in seven months. Despite being deeply concerned by extreme itchiness of her skin - doctors told her that it was most likely ‘dry skin’ and she just needs to ‘moisturise’.‌But Sumbul knew something more sinister was at play, and turned online for answers, where she was horrified to match her symptoms with a form of cancer – which doctors later confirmed. “The first doctor I went to for the itching told me to moisturise my skin and it’s probably just dry skin,” said Sumbul.‌View 5 ImagesSumbul Ari showing her swollen lymph node“I experienced uncontrollable itching everyday and got worse at night – it would keep me up for hours. I hadn’t had a full night's sleep for seven months straight. I would scratch myself with sharp objects, and no medication, cream or antihistamines would help. Doctors put it down to dry skin, scabies, eczema.”On top of the extreme itching Sumbul also experienced constant night sweats, chronic fatigue and a loss of appetite. But due to advice from her doctors she believed it may have been caused by products she was using at home.‌However, none of this stopped the itching which left her stumped until she felt a lump appear on her neck. Sumbul said: “I randomly touched my neck and felt a lump. When I did my Google search, the symptoms came up – itchy skin, fatigue...