Inspirational stories

These inspirational stories are personal accounts of the experiences of patients, carers or fundraisers - they all have a story to tell about their experience with a blood cancer.

Katherine Hawkes

Katherine was just 19 and had barely even begun her education at university when she was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL). It was assumed her symptoms were just freshers’ flu, and Katherine even considered cancelling her GP appointment. Thankfully, she didn’t – a decision that saved her life. Here, she shares her Spot Leukaemia story.

Alice Scanlon

In loving memory of our friend, Alice.

Louise Weatherley

For Louise, she was told her symptoms were a result of the menopause, and she thought it was just another thing that she, as a woman, had to go through. But as her symptoms became difficult to manage, Louise knew something wasn’t right. What followed was a shock phone call from the hospital telling her it wasn’t the menopause – it was leukaemia. Here, she shares her Spot Leukaemia story.

Paul Phillips

Like many others diagnosed with leukaemia, Paul could easily explain away his symptoms. It came as quite a shock, then, when he was told his back pain and fatigue were all due to acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). Here, he shares his story as part of our Spot Leukaemia campaign.

Esther Beswick

For Esther, her symptoms came on suddenly. Thankfully, her own quick-thinking and that of her GP meant she was diagnosed before it was too late. Now in remission from acute myeloid leukaemia, Esther is sharing her Spot Leukaemia story.

Kerry Sykes

For Kerry, it was an unusually heavy period that prompted her to seek medical advice, but she never suspected that it might be cancer. In remission from acute promyelocytic leukaemia, Kerry is sharing her Spot Leukaemia story.

Jayne Gibson

For Jayne Gibson, her GP had been keeping an eye on her blood counts for some time before she was diagnosed with essential thrombocythaemia, and later polycythaemia vera. Her story highlights the importance of an early diagnosis. Read on here.

Vivien Martin

When Vivien lost three stone in weight with no effort, she knew something was wrong, but her GP initially put it down as unexplained weight loss. Vivien pushed for tests, and as a result she was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Here, she shares her Spot Leukaemia story.

Ruby Walvin

Ruby had many of the classic signs of leukaemia before diagnosis, but it was assumed she had anaemia and was sent on her way to recover. However, Ruby didn’t recover. Trusting her gut, she took matters into her own hands and visited a walk-in clinic where her symptoms were recognised for what they were. Now in remission from B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, Ruby is sharing her Spot Leukaemia story.

Ian Hayley

For Ian Hayley, it was a sudden, strong infection that convinced him to see his GP. Expecting to be told he’d picked up a bad virus, he was instead diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). Read on for Ian’s Spot Leukaemia story.

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