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A cancer survivor has revealed how he dismissed his initial symptoms as the result of a boozy lads' holiday.

Andrew Frost, from Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire, had enjoyed three weeks with friends in Thailand in 2019 when he became blighted by a constant itching all over his body and overwhelming exhaustion.

The former Army logistic supply specialist for the Royal Logistics Corp visited his GP on his return to the UK and was given antihistamines. 

But days later the then 25-year-old collapsed on the bathroom floor and was rushed to hospital where he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).

After getting the all-clear, Andrew, now 27, is sharing his experience to encourage people to get any unusual symptoms checked out.

Andrew Frost, now 27, was shocked when he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) after a holiday in June 2019, pictured. He thought his symptoms of itchiness and tiredness were just a hangover 

After returning in the UK, Andrew collapsed twice and was rushed to the hospital for exams. A biopsy indicated he had NHL and needed chemo (pictured in hospital after the diagnosis)

The former army logistics supply specialist for the Royal Logistics Corp went through an intense chemotherapy course, pictured, to fight the disease

Andrew said: 'On holiday we were drinking and partying hard 24/7. There was no sunbathing, no sightseeing, it was just alcohol. It was a good holiday.

'I had a rash on the right-hand side of my arm that was like a heat rash.

'When we were on the plane back from Hua Hin I told the lads, who were mates from school, that I was really itchy all over my body.

'They said there was nothing wrong with me and it was from all the alcohol I'd drunk and from being in the sun.

Andrew, pictured now, left and with his new girlfriend, right, is now raising awareness about cancer and lives a healthier lifestyle

'I thought that maybe I'd been bitten by a bug. I remember thinking "this isn't right" and I slept all the way home.

'The day I got back I fainted at home but didn't think anything of it. I thought it was dehydration from a really bad hangover.

'I was a bit dazzled when I came to and wondered what was going on. I thought it was dehydration so I went downstairs to drink some water but didn't think anything of it.

'Then the itchiness got even worse, it was a constant itching that drove me mad, I couldn't concentrate on anything. 

Andrew started feeling itchy and suffered from extreme tiredness on his trip to Thailand, pictured, but put it on the account of drinking too much alcohol 

The 27-year-old said he could count on the support of the McMillan nurses who accompanied him during his treatment 

'I couldn't see a rash, I could just feel it on the back of my arm.

'I spoke to my friends again and they suggested that maybe I should see a doctor, which I did three days later. He told me to take some antihistamine tablets to reduce the rash. He thought it was an allergic reaction from drinking.'

After returning home from his holiday in June 2019 Andrew took antihistamines as suggested by the doctor, but his symptoms persisted.

Two days later, the otherwise fit and healthy bloke collapsed again on the bathroom floor.

Andrew, pictured in uniform, worked as a former logistics supply specialist for the Royal Logistic corps

The former British Army staff was told he was just dehydrated from too much drinking after returning in the UK following his holiday (pictured while working in the logistic corps)

After leaving the army, The Brit qualified as an HGV driver, meaning he can now drive lorries and large vehicles

HGV driver Andrew was rushed to Queen's Hospital in Burton where doctors ran blood tests and a chest x-ray.

Six weeks later after undergoing a neck biopsy Andrew was told the devastating news he had NHL.

Andrew said: 'I took the antihistamine tablets for two days and then at 1am I went to the toilet and I hit the floor and was frozen, I couldn't do anything.

'My dad came running in to see what was up with me and called for an ambulance.

Andrew in hospital during treatment. The 27-year-old was told he could have lung cancer before he was diagnosed with NHL

'They took me to hospital and did lots of blood tests - my heart, kidney, liver and everything came back perfect.

'The doctors were amazed by what was up with me and said they were going to run an x-ray on my chest.

'They found a 10cm dark black shadow across my chest. Having good results from the other tests made me think it was nothing.'

Initially doctors thought Andrew had lung cancer, but a biopsy confirmed it was NHL - a cancer of the lymphatic system.

Andrew said: 'The consultant asked me to go in for another x-ray and after that I was taken into a room where I was told it could be lung cancer.

After completing his treatment, Andrew met his girlfriend 31-year-old lettings co-ordinator Indre Arbacauskaite  (pictured together) 

'It's the worst thing you can hear and it was a massive shock. I went white and passed out.

'They needed to use a wheelchair to push me around the hospital as I kept shaking. I said to the doctor "no it can't be that, no chance".

'Despite not having any visible lumps or bumps they did a biopsy on the right side of my neck and two weeks later they said it was NHL.

'I didn't know anything about it but then I met my cancer nurse who talked me through everything, she was amazing."

After being diagnosed with stage 2a NHL, in his chest and neck, Andrew underwent a gruelling three-month course of chemo starting in August 2019.

Hitting the gym! Andrew completely changed his lifestyle after recovering from NHL in 2019 and now exercises regularly, pictured

The diagnosis came just months after his beloved gran Jean Warson died after a 20-year battle with stomach cancer.

Andrew said: 'My gran passed away from cancer in 2019, she was battling it for 20 years and that was the hardest thing for the family.

'I had chemo every two weeks for three months. I got lucky that I didn't need any radiotherapy and I beat it really soon, perhaps because of my age.

'I found chemo easier than a lot of people. It made me really tired, pretty grumpy and very hungry so I put on a lot of weight. I wasn't sick but I did lose my hair on the last treatment. I got the all-clear in November.'

After completing his treatment, Andrew met his girlfriend 31-year-old lettings co-ordinator Indre Arbacauskaite.

The active duo regularly go hiking and mountain climbing and, wanting to give back to the nurses who helped his gran, Andrew has decided to do a sponsored 26-mile hike for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Andrew said: 'Exercise helped me a lot. When I finished treatment I met my girlfriend and we did a lot of mountain climbing and hiking around the Peak District. She motivated me. 

Indre and Andrew, pictured camping. The survivor now wants to do a sponsored 26-mile hike for Macmillan Cancer Support to give back 

The dynamic duo together, left and on a hike, right. Andrew wants to give back to the nurses who helped his and his grandmother, who battled with cancer for 20 years before passing away in 2019

Andrew said he became a bit of a 'slob' during his cancer treatment but Indre motivated him to get back into exercising 

The 27-year-old said he was more into sports than ever and looking forward to give back to the people who helped him during his treatment 

Now Andrew is urging anyone with unusual symptoms to get them checked out (pictured left and right with his girlfriend) 

'When I was having treatment I was a bit of a slob, I'd given up [on exercise]. But she pushed me to do everything and really motivated me.

'Now I play golf too and I want to get into kayaking.

'The Macmillan nurses were always good with my gran and I just wanted to give something back.'

Now Andrew is urging anyone with unusual symptoms to get them checked out.

Andrew said: 'I've had friends saying they feel itchy and tired and I've said to always get it checked. I just thought it was nothing and it turned out to be NHL.'

You can donate to Andrew's page here.