Eve Addison thought she was allergic to gin and tonic when she developed a swelling by her collarbone after having a drink.
But a few months later she was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called Hodgkin Lymphoma.
After receiving treatment, the 24-year-old has now been given the all clear, but she wants to raise awareness about the condition to help others recognise the symptoms earlier than she did.
"I suppose, looking back, alcohol did save my life. I had been feeling unwell for a while and every time I went out, I'd come back with swelling and pain," Addison said, according to the MailOnline.
"I just thought nothing of it and when I went to the GP, I was told that there was nothing to worry about."
Hodgkin Lymphoma in an uncommon cancer that develops in the lymphatic system. Around 1,900 people are diagnosed with the disease in the UK each year.
Although it can affect anyone at any age, it is most common in people in their 20s, like Addison, and people over the age of 70.
According to the NHS, the most common symptom of Hodgkin Lymphoma is a painless swelling in a lymph node, usually in the neck, armpit or groin.
Cancer Research UK notes that these swellings can sometimes become more painful after a person has drank alcohol - which may explain why Addison first noticed her swelling after drinking gin and tonic.
Addison re-visited her GP when her swelling worsened and she also started to experience night sweats and a rash.
In January 2014, she received the devastating diagnosis at the Royal Liverpool Hospital.
She underwent a six-month course of chemotherapy but experienced complications including septicemia and a blood clot.
"I lost a lot of muscle and I was so drained all the time. I was so tired and in so much pain that I could barely stand up. Even though I was only 23, I felt like I had the body of a 90-year-old," she recalled.
Thankfully, Addison was given the all-clear in September 2014.
Now, the marketing manager is determined to turn her experience into a positive.
As well as educating others about Hodgkin Lymphoma, she's running the Race For Life in her hometown of Merseyside to celebrate her good health.
She said: "The lessons I learned from it have made me much more appreciative of what I have in life and I feel like I'm oddly lucky."