Leeds man diagnosed with leukaemia at A&E urges others to know the symptoms
Ricky Dugal initially thought he was feeling run down from a family wedding
A Leeds man who was diagnosed with leukaemia after initially thinking he was just run down from a wedding is sharing his story – in the hope others will know what symptoms to look out for.
It’s as new research from Leukaemia Care and Leukaemia UK show less than a sixth of us are able to identify the four main symptoms of the blood cancer, which are unusual bruising, unusual bleeding, fatigue and repeated infections.
More than a third of those who get diagnosed find out the news at A&E – more than any other cancer type.
Ricky Duggal, 32, began noticing a feeling of fatigue after celebrating a family wedding and initially thought he was just run down. The dentist also had joint pain and began having night sweats, which he put down to the warm summer weather.
When he started suffering headaches towards the front of his head he decided to visit his GP on a day off from work last August. He was sent straight to A&E where he was eventually diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL).
“My wife was in the room, my mum and dad were in the room, and you try your hardest to be strong for those around you because you know, hearing that news is not great,” Ricky says.
“But the consultant was very reassuring, he told me that I had blood cancer but the good news is this is fully curable and that’s what we’re going to aim for.
“I was very fortunate, I think they actually caught mine quite early. Had I waited two or three more weeks I could’ve been in a very dangerous situation. I could’ve collapsed somewhere and that could be it essentially. So I’m fortunate that I went to the GP and didn’t ignore my symptoms, and I would urge anybody else to do the same.”
Ricky is now in remission following the first year of treatment.
Throughout the UK 10,000 people are diagnosed with leukaemia every year and almost 5,000 people die from it.
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. They’re 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.
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”
You can find more information about the symptoms of leukaemia here.