Monday the 6th of June 2010 was the first day of a week of annual leave, for my birthday which is on the 10th.  I started to feel unwell with aches and a migraine during that first day off. I thought great, that's me ill for my annual leave and for my birthday.  On the Tuesday I started to get lumps all over my neck popping up over the course of the day like marbles underneath my skin. You could actually see them if I turned my head to the side.  On the Wednesday I was supposed to go to the doctor but I felt really sick and thought I couldn't make the bus journey. So I stayed at home curled up on the sofa, convinced I had mumps or some other virus like most people would have. Thursday the 10th my Birthday, my other half practically packed me into the car and drove me to the doctors, I simply didn’t have the energy to go myself. I now know that decision helped save my life. I had without even realising it been feeling ill leading up to this, but put it down to a busy period at work. Looking back I can see how easy it could have been to miss the symptoms and it may have been a very different outcome from the beginning.

On the 10th of June 2010 I went to the doctors, my doctor took what I thought was a routine blood test and I went home. Still thinking I had a virus and needed to rest, I thought nothing of it but later that day I got a phone call that Ill never forget not for the rest of my life. My blood results were abnormal, they thought I had cancer. In just a few days I went from feeling run down to being told I had cancer. I was in utter shock!! I was only young, where did that come from?? I was admitted to hospital on the 11th of June 2010 with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia at just 27yrs old. 

Acute Leukaemia is an aggressive form of blood cancer that affects the cells of the bone marrow.  It develops so quickly that life expectancy untreated is around 2-4mnths. Thats why my health rapidly declined, and why I was so lucky they found it. I had to be treated fast and had my first round of chemo, which started within a week of my diagnosis on the 17th June 2010 

I had 4 rounds of intensive chemotherapy over 6 months which I spent most of in hospital, including several consecutive weeks in isolation. I lost all my hair, had to have countless blood transfusions and what seemed like a million other tests and treatments most days.  During my chemo my body had to fight infection with no immune system. I battled two types of pneumonia at the same time and had temporary damage to my kidneys because of all drugs I had needed. It seemed so unreal but despite all this, nearly two years later I am currently fighting fit.

I am walking for Macmillan on the 17th to mark exactly 2yrs since that very first dose of chemo. On that day I was trying to come to terms with everything that was happening to me, not knowing what the outcome would be. It is such a terrifying experience, you have so much to face mentally and physically. I felt so lost and had so many questions racing through my mind, at a million miles per hour! My life was changed in the blink of an eye and places like Macmillan help with some of those questions they provide so much support and information to patients and families. It helped me so much and I want to mark how far I have come, by helping the ones that helped me. Please sponsor us no matter how big or small it all means so much :o) Sxxx