Ricky Duggal, a dentist from Leeds, had joint pain, fatigue and constant headaches. At first, he blamed his back pain on his bad posture while working with patients. Eventually, on a day off from work, he visited his GP. Ricky was told he should go straight to A&E, where he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
Ricky said, “I used to have occasional backaches, which I thought were due to my job as a dentist. However, a visit to my usual physio to loosen everything up didn’t bring me any respite. Then it took me longer than it should have done to recover from a family wedding, which prompted me to see my GP.”
Leila Bolton from Hull experienced several symptoms, including a rash, unexplained bleeding, severe bruising and infections.
Leila’s symptoms intensified over a few months as she struggled to get a diagnostic blood test. She saw a GP several times before one was carried out, with her symptoms being put down to stress or allergies.
She was eventually diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML).
Leila said, “I was desperate to get to the bottom of what was happening to me, but I didn’t feel understood or supported by the healthcare teams I saw. Fortunately, the blood test results changed all that. Looking back, the fact that I had been seriously unwell for two months whilst trying to get medical help is terrifying.”
Leila and Ricky have announced plans to support Leukaemia Care and Leukaemia UK during Blood Cancer Awareness Month (September).
Raising awareness
The charities have joined forces to create an annual ‘Spot Leukaemia’ campaign to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of this type of blood cancer.
The charities released findings from a YouGov poll of 2,000 UK adults, which found that less than a sixth (14 per cent) of the UK adult population can identify all the four main symptoms of this deadly blood cancer. These are:
- Unusual bruising
- Unusual bleeding
- Fatigue
- Repeated infections
The organisations said 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 per cent of those diagnosed with leukaemia receive this news in A&E. This is more than any other cancer type1.
People diagnosed with 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.
The charities urge anyone experiencing any or a combination of the four most common symptoms to request a full blood count from their GP. It is a simple yet vital test that can lead to early diagnosis and significantly improve survival rates.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s guidelines state a blood test for leukaemia should be carried out within 48 hours.
Ricky said, “By supporting the Spot Leukaemia campaign, I hope to raise awareness of the main symptoms of the blood cancer, so that if someone else is experiencing them they know to visit their GP and ask for a blood test.”
Fiona Hazell, CEO of Leukaemia UK, said, “We’re so grateful to Leila and Ricky for supporting our Spot Leukaemia campaign. Their harrowing experiences, alongside the 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 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, said, “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.”