West Midlands leukaemia survivor raising awareness of disease as thousands are diagnosed in A&E every year
A 64 year old from Smethwick says unseen cancers need to be highlighted more.
Last updated 30th Sep 2024
A West Midlands resident who has been impacted by a leukaemia diagnosis is supporting leading charities Leukaemia Care and Leukaemia UK to help raise awareness of the blood cancer’s warning signs to help stop it devastating people’s lives.
Fiona Whitehouse, 64, from Smethwick in the West Midlands was struggling with extreme tiredness which was making it difficult for her to get out of bed. She spoke to her GP and, after a series of blood tests, she was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL).
Fiona was put on a ‘watch and wait’ treatment plan for four years until 2022 when she started having repeated chest infections - a common symptom of leukaemia. She also started to bruise very easily and the fatigue intensified - both of which are also signs of leukaemia. Tests showed that the CLL had developed but she stayed on the same treatment plan.
Fiona said: “I was in shock when my diagnosis was confirmed - I didn’t know what it all meant. Looking back now, I did have an unusual rash ten years before my diagnosis - they mentioned then it could have been leukaemia but my blood test came back fine.
“Living with something which can’t be cured is horrible - it’s hard not to be able to do what I used to do. I just don’t have the stamina for my job as an assistant headteacher at a sixth form college anymore. Of all the cancers, leukaemia is a sneaky one as you can’t just cut it out - it’s travelling around your body all the time. I just want to enjoy living the best life that I can now and celebrate what I can do - not what I can’t.”
Andrew Moyens, 52, from Sheldon, Birmingham was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) in 2023. At the time he was working in the motor industry, and began falling asleep in between jobs and suffering from an ongoing chest infection.
He visited his GP, who at the beginning offered some antibiotics to help clear up the infection. The infection got worse. Andrew visited his GP again who offered a blood test. That evening, he was told to go up to A&E urgently as his blood test showed a danger to life. Later the next day, Andrew was diagnosed with leukaemia.
“Being told you have cancer makes you fear the worst and all sorts of thoughts go through your head. By joining the Spot Leukaemia campaign, I hope that anyone who is experiencing the four main symptoms, visits their GP and asks for a blood test”
Fiona and Andrew are supporting Leukaemia Care and Leukaemia UK during Blood Cancer Awareness Month (September). The two charities have released new findings from a YouGov poll of 2,000 UK adults which found that less than a sixth (14%) of the UK adult population are able to identify all the four main symptoms of this deadly blood cancer. These are unusual bruising, unusual bleeding, fatigue, and repeated infections.
The organisations say this is contributing to more than a third of those diagnosed finding out the life-changing news at A&E. Throughout the UK, there are around 10,000 people diagnosed with leukaemia every year, and almost 5,000 deaths. Annually, 37% of those diagnosed with leukaemia receive this news in A&E – more than any other cancer type1.
In addition, people diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) are disproportionately affected as over half of them are diagnosed in emergency settings. This type of leukaemia is particularly aggressive and develops quickly, so early diagnosis and treatment are even more essential.
Leukaemia Care and Leukaemia UK have joined forces for their annual Spot Leukaemia campaign which aims to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of this type of blood cancer. The charities are urging anyone experiencing any or a combination of the four most common symptoms to request a full blood count from their GP, a simple yet vital test that can lead to early diagnosis and significantly improve survival rates. According to guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), a blood test for leukaemia should be carried out within 48 hours.
Every day, 27 people in the UK are diagnosed with leukaemia, and currently, over 50,000 are living with the disease. Despite common misconceptions, leukaemia is not just a childhood disease as it predominantly affects those over 65.
Fiona Hazell, CEO of Leukaemia UK, said: “We’re so grateful to Andrew and Fiona for supporting our Spot Leukaemia campaign. Their harrowing experiences, alongside the new data we have, highlight the real and urgent need to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of leukaemia. That’s why our Spot Leukaemia campaign is urging the public and medical communities to both recognise the warning signs and also the importance of requesting a blood test. Being told you or a loved one have leukaemia is hard enough, but no one should have to experience the mental stress and physical trauma of a delayed diagnosis.”
Leukaemia UK and Leukaemia Care are urging the public and healthcare professionals to familiarise themselves with the symptoms of leukaemia and to contact their GP and request a blood test if they have any concerns.
Colin Dyer, CEO of Leukaemia Care, says “The findings call for immediate action. Delayed diagnoses not only devastate lives but also strain the NHS with increased treatment costs. We hear on a daily basis via our support services about the impact this has on patients and their families.
“Knowing the signs and symptoms of leukaemia and not being afraid to ask for a blood test from your GP is really important and something which we will continue to campaign for. Early diagnosis saves lives”
For more information and to find out about the symptoms of leukaemia, visit www.spotleukaemia.org.uk Our campaign video can also be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6322MuTO_zA