Survival

James was generally unwell up to diagnosis. After blood tests at the hospital he and his family were told that James had Leukaemia.

“My parents were great, they both supported and looked after me really well, and were able to take a lot of time off work to take me to hospital. I think my brother felt a bit neglected as a result, he spent a lot of time on his own which I felt bad about.”

James continued with his studies during his three years of chemotherapy, although suffering with nausea, vomiting and numerous infections. James was assigned a home tutor and successfully gained 9 GSCEs and 3 A-levels with an A and B in the extra AS levels. He finished his treatment shortly after completing his A-levels.

“I felt fine, fit again and began to lose the weight which I had put on through all the steroid treatment. I started to exercise again, going out running, and getting back to sport, which I love. But I started getting really bad pains in my knees and was eventually diagnosed with Avascular Necrosis caused by the steroid treatment. This causes the bone tissue to die, and the bone can collapse. So I had to give up anything that impacted on my knees – including running.