I haven’t posted in a long long time, but I hope that my story will be a positive boost to all those undergoing treatment for AML. I was diagnosed with AML completely out of the blue in November 2016. I had been feeling unwell for 7 weeks, and kept being fobbed off by my GP, saying I had a persistent virus. Finally a second GP took a blood test, and I was immediately admitted to the Cancer unit at Poole Hospital later that same day.
After a confirmatory bone marrow biopsy, I started chemotherapy the following day. I was offered the chance to be part of the AML19 blood trial through Cardiff University and funded by Cancer Research UK, and I readily accepted. I was randomised to have FLAGIDA chemo with two doses of Mylotarg. In total I had four cycles over the next six months, spending endless weeks in isolation. I ended up having 56 pints of blood products transfused into me via my Hickman line, as well as numerous litre bags of antibiotics having got sepsis twice while neutropenic. I was finally discharged in late April 2017, somewhat bruised battered but alive.
I’ve spent the last six years, rebuilding my strength, embracing life and cherishing my family. I’m still more forgetful, and the fatigue has never really gone away, but that’s a small price to pay to be alive. In January of this year, I decided I wanted to give something back to cancer research uk, as their research finding literally saved my life. To this end I signed up to complete their Jurassic coast marathon, this Saturday 8th July. It’s going to be incredibly hard, as the full 26 1/4 miles is very hilly, but I've been training hard, and have already hiked the full course in sections. Thank you all for reading, and never ever give up hope.
