Kayla Esson's Battle with Primary Mediastinal B-cell Lymphoma

In February 2025, 21-year-old ambulance technician Kayla Esson woke with her face, neck and collarbones swollen. Her GP prescribed steroids, assuming an allergic reaction, but the swelling persisted. Hospital tests in March identified Primary Mediastinal B-cell Lymphoma (PMBCL), a rare blood cancer. Imaging showed a tumour about 12 cm × 9 cm compressing her vena cava and causing breathlessness.

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PMBCL grows between the breastbone and lungs, producing symptoms when it presses on the chest. Cancer Research UK notes that cancer rates peak in people aged 50 and over, yet Esson’s case shows young adults can also develop the disease. This fuels a belief among youths that cancer is an “older-person” condition, which may delay early detection.

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Esson described the initial shock of waking with facial swelling and later the fear of chemotherapy, noting that uncertainty about how her body would react made the treatment terrifying. She was also terrified of falling asleep during chemotherapy, fearing she might not wake up. She emphasized that family support helped her endure the early sessions.

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From February 2025, when swelling first appeared, to March 2025, when a 12 cm × 9 cm tumour was diagnosed, Kayla began chemotherapy. She completed treatment in July 2025, at which point doctors confirmed remission, and by the end of July she was declared cancer-free.

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After remission, Esson turned to cancer awareness for young people. She volunteers with Teenage Cancer Trust and Blood Cancer UK, and participates in Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life, including the Aberdeen Race for Life. She stresses that early detection saves lives and urges peers not to dismiss symptoms.

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Macmillan describes PMBCL as a blood cancer that grows between the breastbone and lungs, causing neck swelling, breathlessness and chest pain when the tumour expands. Macmillan notes that typical PMBCL symptoms include swelling of the neck, arm or face, headaches, coughing and chest ache as the tumour presses on the chest. Cancer Research UK notes that while cancer rates increase with age, vigilance across all ages is essential for timely diagnosis.

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• “I just woke up one morning, and my face was swollen,” — Kayla Esson, ambulance technician

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• “I think it starts terrifying because you don't know how you're going to react,” — Kayla Esson

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• “The first time definitely was so scary, but I had my family around me.” — Kayla Esson

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Esson will keep fundraising for Blood Cancer UK and Teenage Cancer Trust, and speak at schools and community events across Scotland to promote early symptom recognition among peers.

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