At five months pregnant, Caitlin McAlinden thought her extreme morning sickness was simply part of a difficult pregnancy. But when the nausea, fatigue and weight loss were joined by a growing lump on her neck, the 24-year-old teacher from Merseyside faced something no expectant mother wants to hear: cancer.
McAlinden was diagnosed with stage 1 Hodgkin lymphoma in March 2024. Though treatable, the disease has altered the course of her pregnancy and the early days she imagined with her newborn son.
A Pregnancy Shadowed by Illness
McAlinden discovered she was pregnant on Sept. 16, 2023, after feeling nauseous at her birthday dinner the week before. Her first trimester was far from easy.
“My first trimester was rocky, and I originally believed I had a severe form of morning sickness,” she said.
She was vomiting daily and frequently fell asleep throughout the day. But it wasn’t until Christmas Day that she noticed something was off beyond typical pregnancy symptoms.
“I went back to County Armagh to visit my family for Christmas,” McAlinden said. “I remember Christmas Day, falling asleep on the sofa and waking up with a really sore neck. I thought I’d just slept funny, but I started massaging my neck. That’s when I found a lump about the size of a pea.”
She initially dismissed the lump as “just another weird sign of pregnancy.” But within a week, her exhaustion deepened and the lump tripled in size.
“I was so, so tired,” she said. “Walking up the stairs alone would make me need to lie down. I felt my neck again one day, and the lump had become golf ball-sized.”
A Rapid Diagnosis
Her partner, Connor, 27, a procurement manager, encouraged her to see a doctor. McAlinden visited her general practitioner on Jan. 2 and was referred for an ultrasound. By Jan. 16, she had undergone a biopsy.
The moment she mentioned a family history of Hodgkin lymphoma, her care escalated.
“My doctor’s whole demeanor changed when I said I had a family history of it,” McAlinden said. “I went for a blood test on the same day.”
On March 12, 2024, she received the diagnosis: stage 1 Hodgkin lymphoma. Doctors began steroid treatment immediately to shrink the mass on her neck. Fortunately, surgery wasn’t required, and her care team was optimistic.
Hope and Heartache
“This isn’t the pregnancy I was hoping for — I haven’t felt well this entire time,” McAlinden said.
She is now expected to make a full recovery but currently takes a steroid injection and a blood-thinning pill each morning. After her baby boy is born on May 8, she will begin a four-week course of chemotherapy.
“Everything I want to do after my baby is born has to be put on pause due to the chemo,” she said. “My odds are really good — but having my baby will be a good distraction for everything I’m going through.”
Still, treatment comes with emotional sacrifices.
“In Catholic culture, we’re expected to christen our baby within the first few days of birth. But that coincides with chemotherapy — so I can’t,” she said. “I really wanted to breastfeed, but chemo is stopping me from doing that, too.”
A Team Effort
Because of her condition, a hematologist now attends all her obstetrics and gynecology appointments, and doctors may induce labor before her due date.
“They might try and induce me next week, as I’ve got my cervical sweep booked,” she said. “The waiting times back home in Northern Ireland for treatment are a lot longer than here, so I’m really lucky with how fast everything has moved.”
Throughout it all, McAlinden credits Connor and her family for their unwavering support.
“Connor has been amazing,” she said. “My family have also been making lots of trips back and forth from Ireland to England.”
The couple is expecting a baby boy but have chosen to keep his name a secret for now.
Moving Forward With Strength
Though the road ahead includes chemotherapy and postponed plans, McAlinden remains grounded in optimism and gratitude.
She may not have had the pregnancy she imagined, but she’s carrying both new life and a story of resilience — one that will become a powerful legacy for the son she’s about to meet.
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