A women’s health coach has revealed his personal battle with cancer, sparked by an ’embarrassing’ symptom he noticed at night.
At just 25 years old, Dilan Patel was diagnosed with Stage 4B Hodgkin’s lymphoma, despite feeling that life was ‘normal’. It was the unexpected occurrence of night sweats, which left him ‘drenched’, that alerted him to a deeper issue.
Following his diagnosis, Dilan took charge of his nutrition, fitness, and everyday lifestyle choices. Nine years on and post-chemotherapy, he is now cancer-free. His experience prompted him to leave his lucrative corporate job and create DNA Fitness, a venture aimed at helping women enhance their health and fitness.
Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a type of cancer striking the lymphatic system which plays a crucial role in filtering bodily fluid and fighting infections, has different stages based on how far the disease has spread and which parts of the body are affected. The addition of the letter B to the stage number indicates specific symptoms including heavy night sweating, recurrent high temperatures, particularly at night, and unexplained weight loss, as noted by Cancer Research UK.
Dilan shared his inspirational journey in an Instagram post caption: “You won’t believe it… I was 25 years old, living my life like any other young adult – working hard, working out, hanging with friends, and trying to figure out my future.
“Life felt normal. I had no reason to think anything was wrong. But then something strange started happening.
“I’d wake up in the middle of the night drenched in sweat. I mean SOAKED. My clothes, my bed – everything would be wet. It happened 2-3 times every single night. At first, I just thought, ‘Maybe I’m getting too hot under the covers?’ So I brushed it off.”
The night sweats didn’t stop for Dilan as “weeks turned into months” and he realised there were “other signs” too. He was exhausted “all the time” but he put this down to working long hours.
His skin was also “unbelievably itchy” that he didn’t go anywhere without some lotion as he was “convinced it was just dry skin.” He also noticed lumps on his neck but he thought they were muscles growing from all his time spent working out in the gym.
Dilan continued: “But eventually, I started feeling worse so I went to the doctor. Nothing could’ve prepared me for what they told me. At just 25 years old, I was diagnosed with Stage 4B Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Five tumours. It had even spread to my lung.
“I couldn’t believe it. I’d spent so long brushing off my symptoms, convincing myself they weren’t a big deal. But my body had been screaming at me for almost 2 years. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from this experience, it’s to pay attention to your body.”
“Those little signs and symptoms? They’re there for a reason. Don’t wait until it’s too late.”
Dilan’s Instagram post has amassed an impressive 27.7 million views, 91,588 likes and 6,481 comments. Followers have been quick to share their personal experiences in the comments section.
One user recounted: “My son had the night fevers, exhaustion, then swelling. I US scanned him and had biopsies done. It was stage 4 large cell anaplastic non Hodgkins Lymphoma.”
Another shared a similar story: “I had the same symptoms and my doctor brushed it off. I had the same diagnosis.”
A third described their ordeal: “Hii! I had almost all the same symptoms along with rapid weight loss. Went to a Dr, he felt a lump but we brushed it off thinking it’s just a swelling. Didn’t realise it was cancer till it came to stage 4B. Had spread till my bone marrow.”
According to the NHS, Hodgkin lymphoma is considered a rare type of cancer, with the most prevalent symptom being a painless swelling in a lymph node, often found in the neck, armpit or groin. Night sweats are also noted as a potential symptom for those affected.
In another post on Instagram, Dilan shared that his haematologist gave him a 42% chance of survival. Fortunately, he beat the odds.
He now uses the lessons from his cancer journey to coach his clients not only on physical health but also on building resilience—physically, emotionally, and mentally. For anyone concerned about symptoms, consulting with a GP is advised. While it may not be cancer, it’s always safer to get it checked out.