Current patient Matthew from Bristol currently being treated for AML and talks openly about what is keeping him motivated during “the hardest time of his life”. 

Matthew was diagnosed in 2024 with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML), and is receiving treatment at Bristol Haematology & Oncology Centre.

In June 2024 I married my life partner and soulmate, Emma, the mother of my three children, at our home in a dream celebration after 20 years together. As we made our vows to each other we were filled with hope and excitement for the future but in the back of my mind, I was really worried about some unexplained bruises that I had found the previous week. Life has been incredibly busy. I have a business with three children and we were preparing our home for our wedding and 150 guests. Emma noticed the bruises on my arm the week before and we wondered if it was due to cricket practice or down to me just working too hard. However, my nephew age just two years old was diagnosed with ALL back in 2010. Because of the family history, I worried in the back of my mind these bruises were more serious than a simple sporting injury.

I was so worried that on the Monday after our wedding, I drove straight to my doctor surgery having been unable to get an appointment over the phone. I stood in reception and showed the receptionist the bruises on my arms. She looked quite shocked and arranged for me to have a blood test ASAP, the blood test was carried out on Monday morning and we went off on our honeymoon for a couple of nights away. Just a few days later I received a call from the BRI asking me to come straight to the ward.

At that point, no mention was made of me visiting the oncology ward however my wife had the foresight to pack an overnight bag for me and we headed straight to Bristol Hospital. As we entered the BRI and press the button for level seven it dawned on us both that we were heading to the oncology centre. Once inside a further blood test was carried out and within 20 minutes, I had the diagnosis that we feared. I was diagnosed with AML. Anyone who has ever been diagnosed with cancer will say that that the moment they had the diagnosis will stay with them forever.

The complete shock that I felt was overwhelming, my wife and I crumbled into each other’s arms. However, it’s not in my nature to roll over instead I want to step up to a challenge. I quickly told Emma to dry her eyes and told the doctors that I would do whatever needed to be done.  I’ve always been a sporting person and very active. Running is way for me to clear my mind and I love the camaraderie of team sports. I played rugby since I was eight years old and my entire rugby team I class as my best friends. The year I turned 30 I completed an Iron Man Triathlon in Nice. In the run up to this I did intensive training and after the triathlon I continued to do strenuous races including the Snowdonia Marathon. Never one to shy away from a challenge, I decided that my cancer battle was going to be one similar, needing the dedication and determination that I knew I had deep down.

It’s not been easy. The chemotherapy caused a horrendous rash all over my body and at one point I had a chest infection that required me to have oxygen 24/7. I couldn’t even have a shower on my own and needed Emma for support. What kept me going was keeping active every day. I get up early and go for a walk around hospital grounds. The BRI in Bristol is in quite a hilly area and I use these hills as part of my training. I would walk laps and laps around the hilly roads of Bristol , I managed to convince a Nurse to provide me with one of the cycling machines I had spotted in the corridor and on the days when I didn’t feel able to go outside I would use this in my room. I made sure each morning that I ate breakfast, got dressed and got out and about even if I couldn’t go far. Keeping active and keeping a good routine throughout the day helped my mental health and my physical health as well. I’m nowhere near the end, at the moment I am waiting for a bone marrow transplant which I expect will happen in the next few weeks, this is another challenge that I will dig deep. I keep in my mind that I have three young children and I want to see them grow up, my wife and I have lots of exciting plans for the future. Having these goals will keep me going in the dark days. The hardest part will be having to be away from my family for 100 days, however at the moment we are enjoying these fantastic days at home together as a family and I continue to feel well.

As I know the intense chemotherapy and transplant would take out of me physically I have made sure I am eating lots of protein eating well and exercising for me. This is running and weightlifting trying to build up some weight and strength ready for the time ahead in hospital. I can honestly say this has been the hardest thing I’ve ever experienced in my entire life, the uncertainty is scary. The amount of drugs that you have to take is a worry but this is all with the same goal to be well, to live life to the full with my family and watch my children grow up. The doctors and nurses at the Bristol oncology and haematology centre have been truly amazing. I do enjoy a chat and a laugh and a joke. It’s helped me through the days and I want to thank everybody he’s been involved in my treatment so far.