Rylie Kuyper has shared her cancer journey on TikTok, with one video going viral and reaching over 31 million views
NEED TO KNOW
- LSU soccer player Rylie Kuyper was diagnosed with Stage 2 Hodgkin’s lymphoma after noticing unusual symptoms and a lump
- Kuyper has shared her cancer journey on TikTok, with one video going viral and reaching over 31 million views
- She credits her faith, teammates, and positivity for helping her navigate treatment and inspire others facing similar challenges
At 19, Rylie Kuyper looked like the picture of health. The Louisiana State University freshman split her days between classes and hours of Division I soccer training in Baton Rouge — yet despite constant workouts and a disciplined diet, her stamina was slowly slipping away.
Along with her fatigue came other symptoms she initially dismissed. Itchy skin that began last July was chalked up to allergies, while shortness of breath was attributed to being out of shape.
“I just thought that I was unfit and needed to run and lift more and practice harder,” Kuyper, who grew up in Louisiana, tells PEOPLE exclusively.
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It wasn’t until March 12, when she noticed a lump on her neck while driving back from spring break with her teammates, that the soccer player realized something wasn’t right. Just a few months earlier, in December, she had also noticed a small lump in her breast…