Student Says TikTok Helped Catch Serious Illness After Spotting Odd Symptom In Trend Video

A college student believes that TikTok ended up saving his life after he noticed something strange while taking part in a popular online trend.

Felipe Escobedo, who lives in Atlanta, Georgia, had been regularly posting videos as he joined in on a social media challenge. But while reviewing his clips, he spotted something unusual on his neck that made him pause.

The 19-year-old was trying out Coconut Cult yogurt, inspired by TikTokers who said it helped them look 'less bloated'. But when he watched his own videos, he noticed a noticeable lump that made his neck look oddly 'curvy' and seemed to be getting bigger.

Even though he wasn’t experiencing any other symptoms, Felipe became worried when he felt what he described as a 'big ball' sticking out from his neck. He didn’t wait long before deciding to get it checked out.

"I didn't realize the left side under my jaw felt harder than the right side. It was very small, but it felt like a small, hard rock." he added.

Doctors initially suggested it might just be a side effect of something mild, like a cold or the flu. But when the lump started to swell two weeks later, Felipe went straight to the emergency room to get a second opinion.

Felipe was filming himself eating the yoghurt every day Kennedy News

At Albany General Hospital in Oregon, doctors made a shocking discovery. In addition to the lump he had found, there were four more hidden ones. They quickly scheduled surgery for Felipe on June 9, though they were only able to remove one during the procedure.

Just two days after the surgery, Felipe received news that changed everything. He was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma — a rare form of cancer that begins in the lymphatic system, which helps fight infections and is made up of vessels and glands spread across the body.

According to the NHS, Hodgkin lymphoma usually develops in people aged between 20 and 40, though it can also appear in those over 75.

The most common warning sign is a painless swelling in a lymph node. This usually appears in areas like the neck, the groin, or under the arm.

Over time, he spotted his neck looked 'curvy' Kennedy News

Even though this cancer can be fast-spreading, it’s also one of the more treatable types. That gave Felipe some relief in the face of his diagnosis.

Doctors found that his cancer had reached stage three, spreading to both his stomach and lungs. But the positive news is that it’s considered treatable.

As he gears up for chemotherapy, Felipe credits TikTok and the viral yogurt challenge for helping him catch it in time. He says the platform may have just saved his life.

Felipe shared that hearing the diagnosis triggered a flood of emotions, though he barely had time to fully process what was happening.

"I had just finished packing up my dorm so I could only cry for three minutes before I had to go to the airport and back to Georgia." Felipe continued. "I had a feeling this was possible but then I also couldn't believe this was actually what I have and that I have to move forward with this."

"I'm so grateful that those videos really made me see that this one lymph node was something more serious. I even looked at the photos from the past and started noticing."

Felipe brushed off his cough at the time Kennedy News

"Filming those videos saved my life because I spotted it and now I can get treatment."

Felipe also admitted he had a stubborn cough that started way back in February. But since he was living in a college dorm, he figured it was nothing serious and chalked it up to the usual bugs that go around in shared spaces.

Now, he’s encouraging others not to ignore even the smallest signs. What might seem like nothing could actually be something more important.

Felipe continued: "Being in a college dorm it's very easy to get sick so I thought when I went back to Georgia it was going to go away."

"If you're coughing really hard for weeks, definitely look after that, and if you feel something hard on your neck, get that checked."

"It's paired with cold and flu symptoms but definitely keep a lookout."