Inspirational Stories

Sarah Hollender

When Sarah began to feel unusually tired, she thought she was probably run down. However, as her symptoms progressed, she took herself to her GP, but after three visits she was forced to push for a blood test. Now in remission from acute myeloid leukaemia, Sarah shares her Spot Leukaemia story.

Ian Micklewright

When Ian began to feel tired and generally unwell, he assumed his symptoms would soon pass. However, as his symptoms got worse, Ian booked appointments with his GP and a dentist, and even visited A&E, but no one spotted his symptoms. Now over a decade since his diagnosis, Ian shares his Spot Leukaemia story.

David Jenkins

When David began noticing bruises and experiencing breathlessness, he took himself to see his GP. However, David’s symptoms were misdiagnosed at each visit, until a blood test for suspected liver problems revealed that David in fact had acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL), a diagnosis that almost came too late. Still in remission 18 years later, David shares his Spot Leukaemia story.

Lauren Capaldi

Lauren was 19 when she began to feel unusually tired, but put this down to a busy social life. When she visited the GP about a cold and an enlarged gland that wouldn’t go, she hadn’t expected to be diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) just two days later. Now aged 27, Lauren is sharing her Spot Leukaemia story.

Emma Allen

Emma Allen was just 31 when she was diagnosed with essential thrombocythaemia (ET), and later prefibrotic myelofibrosis (Pre-MF) and polycythaemia vera (PV). However, following her diagnosis, it was discovered that her platelet count had in fact been abnormal for at least seven years, yet had never been investigated further. Here, she shares her Spot Leukaemia story.

Jasmine Barnett

Jasmine was training for the London Marathon when she began feeling more tired than expected. She visited her GP a few times, but her symptoms were brushed off and an abnormal blood test result wasn’t followed up on. Eventually, after months of symptoms, Jasmine was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL). Here, she recounts her Spot Leukaemia story.

Jamie Woods

Jamie was enjoying the benefits of two new jobs when he suddenly fell ill after a busy weekend. He assumed he simply had the flu, but after his wife urged him to see his GP, he was rushed to hospital to be diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL). Here, he shares his Spot Leukaemia story.

Lee Lazari

When Lee began to feel fatigued and unwell, he put his symptoms down to working hard and not taking care of himself. When Lee then visited his GP, he was told he had a viral infection, but Lee’s symptoms wouldn’t go. Each time Lee saw a doctor, his symptoms were dismissed, until he took matters into his own hands and finally received his diagnosis of chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). Here, Lee recounts his Spot Leukaemia story.

Claire Shepherd

28-year-old Claire Shepherd began experiencing symptoms in February of 2019. However, her symptoms were constantly misdiagnosed, and it wasn’t until April that she received her diagnosis of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) following multiple trips to the GP and dentist, and calls to NHS 111. Here, Claire shares her Spot Leukaemia story.

Vaughn Scott

Vaughn was 32 and working overseas for the Armed Forces when he began to experience chest pain. Soon, he was being medevacked back to the UK to be diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Now in remission, Vaughn is sharing his Spot Leukaemia story to raise awareness of leukaemia symptoms, especially amongst the BAME community.