Young Lash Technician’s Battle with Classic Hodgkin Lymphoma

In February 2026, 26-year-old Sarah Esposito of Toms River, New Jersey, discovered a lump in her neck. She initially attributed the swelling to a sleeping position and later to the physical strain of leaning over clients. Over the following weeks she experienced sharp shoulder pain, chest and back discomfort when breathing deeply, and other systemic signs. A PET scan later revealed cancerous lymph nodes in her neck and chest and a seven-centimeter mediastinal mass. After a series of tests and a biopsy, Esposito was diagnosed with classic Hodgkin lymphoma in June 2026.

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Esposito’s oncologists classified the disease as a blood-cancer affecting the lymphatic system, a type most common among people in their 20s and 30s. She elected to preserve future fertility by undergoing an egg-retrieval procedure on July 11, after which she began a six-cycle chemotherapy regimen. Side effects have included exhaustion, bone pain, nausea, and hair loss, prompting her to shave her head.

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The diagnosis forced Esposito to step away from her work as a lash technician and permanent-makeup artist—a career she described as central to her identity and independence. She expressed that abandoning her profession was “devastating,” affecting both income and self-perception. The rapid succession of medical appointments, hormone injections, and chemotherapy has reshaped her life goals; she is now pursuing a nursing degree and documenting her journey on TikTok (@sarahespositoo) to connect with other young patients.

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Dr. Luke Sorrell, a board-certified internal-medicine physician and founder of Sorrell MD, noted that while no single chemical has been linked directly to classic Hodgkin lymphoma, many personal-care products contain substances such as phthalates, parabens, formaldehyde, azo dyes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and heavy metals. He described the oncologist’s recommendation for Esposito to leave her line of work as “reasonable” given the established links between certain chemicals and other cancers, and emphasized that most patients carry multiple environmental toxin exposures.

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• “One of the earliest signs that something was wrong was a lump in my neck,” — Sarah Esposito

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• “Eventually, I began experiencing other symptoms, including pain in my chest and back, especially when taking deep breaths. What I didn’t know at the time was that I had a large mass growing inside my chest,” — Sarah Esposito

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• “After undergoing several tests, scans, and a biopsy, I was diagnosed with classic Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of blood cancer, in June 2026,” — Sarah Esposito

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• “Having to walk away from my career was devastating,” — Sarah Esposito

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• “There are days when I’m grateful, hopeful, and feeling strong, and there are other days when I’m frustrated, emotional, and grieving the life I had before my diagnosis.” — Sarah Esposito

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