Doctor diagnoses 23-year-old's cough as COVID-19. Turns out it's actually cancer, and she's lucky to be alive.



A 23-year-old woman from the United Kingdom suffered a devastating cancer diagnosis after her doctor initially diagnosed her persistent cough as that of coronavirus.

What are the details?

Chloe Girardier, a caregiver for the elderly who lives in Harrogate, said that she developed a cough that refused to go away even when treated with antibiotics, inhalers, acid reflux tablets, and rest.

Girardier, according to the U.K.'s Mirror, was originally denied an in-person visit with her doctor and was instead diagnosed with COVID-19.

The cough persisted for several more months.

When she refused to receive an informal, over-the-phone diagnosis and pushed for an X-ray, her fears were confirmed: She had a cancerous mass inside her chest, measuring approximately four inches. She was soon diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma.

"I had no lumps or any other noticeable signs apart from the continuous cough," she said. "When I started losing weight in October, that's when I really pushed for answers because it was noticeable to everyone around me."

She added, "I can't believe it wasn't looked into further, and if I hadn't pushed for the chest X-ray, I may still not have a diagnosis."

Girardier said that many doctors' offices refuse to book appointments for things that present as "just a cough" during the pandemic.

"Other illnesses exist, and a cough isn't just a sign of COVID," she added.

Girardier's intensive chemotherapy treatment is set to begin on Dec. 20.

"Now," she continued, "because I've been diagnosed so late, I'll have to have my chemotherapy a few days before Christmas. ... If doctors had found it quicker, I wouldn't need such intense chemo."

"This cancer could've been caught three months earlier and I'm just lucky it's this type of cancer, and not one that progresses really quickly," added Girardier, who hopes for a full recovery.

French President Emmanuel Macron tests positive for COVID; news sends multiple European leaders into quarantine



French President Emmanuel Macron has tested positive for COVID-19, according to Reuters.

The information has allegedly sent several European leaders into quarantine following a Dec. 10-11 summit.

What are the details?

The outlet reported that Macron met with "numerous" heads of state and their high-ranking officials before testing positive for COVID-19.

Over the last 10 days, he has met with Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa and French Prime Minister Jean Castex, who are now self-isolating. Macron also reportedly met with Costa for a working lunch.

He also was in attendance at a convention with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and President of the European Council Charles Michael. Both are now self-isolating.

Sanchez also reportedly had lunch with Macron on Monday, the Spanish leader's office said in a statement.

The report noted that Macron attended a European Council summit in Brussels.

"Of the council's 27 member states, only two leaders were missing: Estonia's Jüri Ratas and Croatia's Andrej Plenkovic."

Those in attendance also included German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, European Parliament President David Sassoli, and President of the European Commission Ursula Von Der Leyen.

What else?

On Thursday, CNN reported that the Elysee Palace said Macron was diagnosed after being tested "at the onset of the first symptoms."

"In accordance with current health regulations applicable to all, the President of the Republic will isolate himself for 7 days. He continues to work and carry out his activities remotely," the statement added.

A reported EU official in the European Council told CNN that "all sanitary measures were observed, and we have not been informed of any other participant or staff present during the summit who tested positive."

On Monday, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control reported that France's 14-day coronavirus infection rate was 236.3 new cases per 100,000 people.