NEED TO KNOW

• Jessica Farrington shared on social media the signs of cancer that she ignored before being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin follicular lymphoma

• The TikTok user is hoping to raise awareness and encourage others to listen to their bodies

• She tells PEOPLE that many of the early signs of cancer “can oftentimes be overlooked and brushed off”

A Texas woman is hoping to raise awareness by opening up on social media about the warning signs she missed before being diagnosed with cancer.

On Sept. 29, Jessica Farrington, 45, posted a photo on TikTok sharing a message about her health journey.

“My body whispered long before it ever screamed,” she wrote. “At first, it was the little things. Fatigue I chalked up to being a busy mom, night sweats I blamed on hormones, itchy skin that I thought was from the water or laundry detergent, swollen lymph nodes I thought would just go away.”

“I kept brushing them off, convincing myself it was stress, lack of sleep, or just ‘normal life,’” she said. “But those whispers were actually my body trying to tell me something bigger.”

Farrington explained that now, looking back, she realized that those “subtle changes” were the first signs of non-Hodgkin follicular lymphoma, which she was diagnosed with in March 2025.

Follicular lymphoma is a slow-growing cancer that can appear in the lymph nodes, bone marrow and other organs, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Symptoms can include fever, sweating and chills, fatigue, weight loss with no known cause and painless swelling in the neck, armpit or groin.

“I wish I had listened sooner, but hindsight always feels clearer,” she continued. “That’s why I share this: not to scare, but to remind you that your body is wise. If something feels off, don’t ignore it. Don’t wait for it to scream like I did. Listening to your body might just save your life.”

In another video, Farrington shared more details about the events leading up to her diagnosis. She said she found a lump in her armpit that ultimately pushed her to get checked out by a doctor.

“It started as one pea sized hard lump.” she explained in the comments. “After a while a couple more popped up in a cluster in the same area.”

The content creator said her doctor ordered a mammogram and ultrasound of the lymph node in her armpit. The results appeared “suspicious,” so they had a biopsy done which ultimately led to her diagnosis.

Farrington has since used her platform to raise awareness for early detection and encourage others to stay on top of their health.

“Your body is always trying to tell you something,” she said. “Pay attention and always go and see a doctor if something concerns you.”

Farrington also tells PEOPLE, “I just feel like it’s important to spread awareness and to open that discussion about these symptoms, which can oftentimes be overlooked and brushed off because they are the symptoms of so many other things.”