A Devon mum was diagnosed with a life-threatening condition after visiting her GP over a nagging cough and breathlessness. Linda Sellar was sent for tests by her doctor after she also began to experience breathlessness and picked up infections.
Following blood tests and a bone marrow biopsy she learned she had acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), the most common type of leukaemia. After the diagnosis in 2019 Linda didn’t think she would live to enjoy her retirement.
Every year almost 3,100 people in the UK are diagnosed with AML yet its survival rates are among the worst of any cancer type. Just 13.6% of people survive longer than five years after their diagnosis.
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However after two rounds of chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant using donor cells from her son, Jack, the former civil servant is now in remission. She is enjoying spending her time walking, skiing and travelling with her husband – and is urging anyone with similar symptoms to see their GP.
Linda, now 65, said: “I can now recognise that my breathlessness was a symptom and am so grateful that my husband insisted on my visit to the GP. I was also lucky that my GP was vigilant.
“I would urge anyone who has symptoms to visit their GP and insist on blood tests, even if the GP does not consider it necessary.”
Linda struggled with the side effects of her treatment including losing her hair twice, fevers and a fungal lung infection. She is welcoming new funding announced by research charity Leukaemia UK which aims to minimise the impact treatments such as chemotherapy can have on those diagnosed.
She said: “I would not be here today without the marvellous medical treatments available to cure my AML and the subsequent fungal lung infection. All this is available to people like me thanks to research and funding provided by Leukaemia UK.”
Professor Terry Rabbitts, Professor of Molecular Immunology at the Institute of Cancer Research in London, is exploring a new approach to targeting AML cancer cells to minimise the impact of treatment. The announcement was made ahead of this year’s World AML Day on Sunday (April 21).
Professor Rabbitts said: “Leukaemia is caused by mutations in the DNA of normal cells, causing them to become cancerous. Sometimes chromosomes break and are joined to other chromosomes. If this happens it can result in ‘fusion proteins’ – these only occur in cancer cells, so they are specific targets for treatment. My team and I will explore a new approach to targeting fusion proteins by channelling antibodies inside cancer cells.
“We have already begun a new technology that will allow us to deploy antibodies inside cells. Our aim is to get them to bind with the fusion proteins inside cancer cells to destroy them. This new anti-cancer strategy will mean fewer side effects for AML patients and should ultimately also benefit other blood cancers and solid tumours.”
Fiona Hazell, chief executive of Leukaemia UK, said: “Treatments for leukaemia, which have remained largely unchanged since the 1960’s, are harsh and can cause terrible side effects like the ones Linda sadly experienced. We’re delighted to announce Prof Rabbitts’ new project, which, along with our other funded research projects, will help us to accelerate progress in leukaemia treatment and care.
“We want to offer people like Linda the hope of more effective and gentler treatments in the future. Breakthroughs happen all the time and we won’t stop until we have found better, kinder treatments for all those affected.”
To find out more visit www.leukaemiauk.org.uk
Sarah Carter is a health and wellness expert residing in the UK. With a background in healthcare, she offers evidence-based advice on fitness, nutrition, and mental well-being, promoting healthier living for readers.
