Sara’s ALL Diary – Part 1
Diary of Sara, an Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) Patient.
What is Leukaemia?
About Leukaemia, the different types, and more information
What is Leukaemia?
Leukaemia is a form of blood cancer, and it can effect anyone, at any age.
Anyone can develop leukaemia at any age. Although it is more common in adults, leukaemia is the most common form of childhood cancer, with most children diagnosed under the age of 5.
There are 4 main different types of Leukaemia:
What are the symptoms of Leukaemia?
Symptoms can include:
- Anaemia – This can cause tiredness, breathlessness and other symptoms. You may also begin to look pale.
- Blood Clotting Problems – This can cause easy bruising, bleeding from the gums and other bleeding-related problems.
- Serious infections
- Weight loss
If you find that you’re suffering with any of these symptoms we would advise that you visit your GP to investigate the cause. However, these symptoms are common to many other illnesses so it is highly unlikely that acute leukaemia is the cause.
Dr Paul Ferguson, Clinical Lecturer in Haematology at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, describes what Leukaemia is.
How does Cure Leukaemia help?
Cure Leukaemia helps to fund the Trial Acceleration Programme (TAP) across the UK, that connects leukaemia patients to potentially lifesaving trial treatments.
The money we kindly receive through donations and the support of the community helps to fund the research nurses.
At Cure Leukaemia, we believe there is a moral duty to test new drugs quickly and, if effective, make them available to patients across the region, the UK and the world.
We have spent the last decade developing a tried and tested formula for delivering clinical trials that works.
A specialist nurse costs £50,000 per year to fund, and by funding more nurses we can potentially save more lives.
Want to get involved and help fund a nurse?
Our Cure Leukaemia funded nurses play a vital role in helping to treat patients, and each specialist nurse costs £40,000 a year to fund.
Patient Stories
Nick’s Journey: How the VICTOR Trial Gave Him a Second Chance
How the VICTOR Trial Gave Nick a Second Chance
Paris-Roubaix: A Challenge, a Cause, and an Unexpected Discovery
The unforgiving cobbles helped him realise something was wrong - the intense vibrations exposed issues in his neck that might have otherwise gone unnoticed.
Staying Close to Home: How Will’s Journey Highlights the Power of Localised Care
For 16-year-old Will and his family from Hertfordshire, being close to home during his treatment for leukaemia has been a lifeline.