Patient stories

Patient stories


“I first realised something was wrong when I kept falling asleep at school."

Daisy Turner was diagnosed with a type of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) at the age of 16.

"I still remember most of my treatment and I have been inspired to become a children's nurse to help kids like me"

When I was four I was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia which I fought for five months.

"Leukaemia has made Ben grow up a lot quicker than he should"

Video: Eight-year-old Ben was six when he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

"She was beautiful, funny, kind and loved by everyone who knew her."

Claire died just two weeks after being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia at the age of 31.

"In having the treatments I needed to survive I had to sacrifice my fertility"

Kate defied the odds by having children following her non-Hodgkin lymphoma treatment.

"If it wasn't for the money people raise towards research I might have had to take my wee girl home to die"

Rebecca was seven months old when she was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia.

"We really needed to help each other keep it together for the sake of the kids"

I was diagnosed with follicular lymphoma whilst my wife Clare was pregnant with our third child.

"It made me feel very lonely"

I was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in April 2010 at the age of 32.

"Jamie had to use a wheelchair, which is very difficult for an active young boy to get used to"

Jamie was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma just months after his sixth birthday.

"Scientists supported by Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research were able to study the twins"

Olivia developed acute lymphoblastic leukaemia when she was two but Isabella did not.

"Getting on the clinical trial saved my life"

Graham was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia, aged just 41.

“Ben fractured his leg after a light fall and when they took the cast off, his leg didn’t look normal."

Ben is only the second person in the country known to have developed ALL after AML.

"Mary and I had only been married five years and our lives were just beginning"

Ian spent his 70th birthday in hospital after being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia.

"What broke my heart was that she squeezed my hand again to say she was frightened"

Jenna, who was born with a rare form of cystic fibrosis, was diagnosed with leukaemia aged 3.

"I had a wife and little girl, with another on the way. I was determined to beat this"

I was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia in 2001, aged only 30 years.

"I was desperate to get back to a 'routine' and enjoy the company of the Watch!"

I was finally diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma stage 4 in February 2008.

"I'd just lost my father to multiple myeloma, another blood cancer, so to learn Jack was in danger was awful"

Jack was just five years old when he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

"I just kept telling myself that if those little ones with blood cancers can tolerate it, I can too."

David, grandfather of four, was diagnosed with myeloma in 2006 at the age of 50.

“My husband and I were just in shock. It made no sense. How can my baby have cancer?"

Nathan was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in May 2010, aged just two.

"We were very honest with them about what was happening and both of them have been brilliant.”

Tom Cowpe was just five when he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

"There wasn’t a match in the family, so Bradley had an anonymous bone marrow donor."

Bradley was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia when he was just three and a half.

"You have to be strong and you have to fight."

Domenic was diagnosed with CML on April Fools' day. His wife Julie tells their story.

"I did a bit of research and learnt the background to the disease I had and I found it really helped."

Mark was diagnosed with CML in 1996, and doctors believed his condition was terminal.

"It’s all about showing people that it’s possible to get over it and do these mad things."

John was diagnosed with CML in 1988 and had a transplant. He has been in remission ever since.

"I spent a total of 13 weeks in isolation in 2012 - a quarter of a year."

I was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) in February 2011 when I was 41.

"I am so grateful to all who helped me through this.”

I was a 51 year old woman, so I wasn't your typical Hodgkin lymphoma patient.

"Anything is possible if you put your mind to it and seek the right help and advice from experts."

In August 2011 just after my 30th birthday, I was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma.

"Oliver was constantly in and out of hospital."

Oliver was three when he was diagnosed with T-cell lymphoma in November 2011.

"I have a new network of friends from the ward who I keep in touch with - they are my second family."

Billy was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia at just eight months old.

"I need to see what happens but am determined to beat this."

Derek, 44, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia in February 2013.

"Amy said that it makes her sad, when she visits the ward, to see so many new names on the board."

Amy Carmichael, 8, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in July 2012.

"I went from thinking I might never play again, to appearing at Wembley with Torquay United for the play off final"

Chris was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia while he was playing for Torquay United.

"It was like a dream – or more like a nightmare"

Jonjo was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in 2006, aged 23.

"It didn't seem real until I saw the twins"

Vanessa was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukaemia while she was pregnant with twins.

"My motto is 'keep calm and carry on' and business as usual."

Helen was diagnosed with myeloma in 2005 at the age of 57.

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