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“I used to be a runner and would regularly run five miles before work. One day in April 2016, I went out and only managed to run three miles. It felt like I’d hit the wall and had nothing left in the tank! I felt fatigued and as if I had a lack of energy.
After about a month or two, I decided to visit the GP. They didn’t get to the bottom of it initially, and it wasn’t until I had an annual medical at work that I pressed the issue and proper blood tests were done in January 2018. In March, I was called into the GP and was told they thought I had chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), which I had never heard of. An appointment was made for me to see a haematologist at Hammersmith Hospital for April, and that was when it was 100% confirmed as CLL. 
I believe I took the diagnosis as well as can be expected, strangely without shock or great worry! This I put down to my daily meditation practice that I’d been doing for the past two years. My wife, on the other hand, thought that this would be a good time for me to stop work and leave London for a quieter pace of life elsewhere. Despite my initial reservations, which were primarily about how we would make ends meet, I handed my notice in, put the house on the market and we moved to Monmouth in the Wye Valley on December 18th. This has turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
I’ve recently trained to teach meditation, because for me, it’s the single best thing I’ve ever done for my general wellbeing and I’m just starting to teach it, initially online. I’d love to teach it to fellow CLL patients. This is very much a giving back exercise and it’s certainly not about making lots of money.*
At the time of my diagnosis, I confess that I wasn’t really aware of Spot Leukaemia, but I do think it’s a good idea. Anything that raises awareness about it, can only be a good thing, particularly given that it claims more lives than prostate or breast cancer!”
Paul’s symptom of leukaemia was:
• Fatigue
Are you currently dealing with a similar symptom to Paul’s? If so, contact your GP and ask for a blood test.
For more information on our Spot Leukaemia campaign, our goal and how to get involved, head over to our official Spot Leukaemia website at www.spotleukaemia.org.uk
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Paul would love to teach meditation to help other CLL patients who have shared a similar experience.
Find out about Paul, his meditation and how to get involved here.
