A 46-year-old Brit diagnosed with a rare form of cancer has detailed the bizarre symptom she ignored.
Elaine Hold, from Newcastle, had various infections, but initially thought nothing of it because of a long-running history of lung problems due to bronchitis - a condition she’d had for years.
And when Elaine paid her GP a visit to get checked out for breathlessness and fatigue symptoms, blood tests seemed to confirm that was the case.
However, countless bruises worried Elaine and her partner, and it was her husband who urged her to seek medical attention once more for her bizarre symptoms.
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After more tests, Elaine was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer known as acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), which affects the blood and bone marrow.
Recalling when she was diagnosed with leukaemia, Elaine told the Leukaemia Care charity: "My doctor insisted I had bloods taken but that took a lot of persuading as I hate needles.
"He took my bloods on Monday and the Freeman Hospital called me on Tuesday to come into hospital with an overnight bag and another adult. I was diagnosed with ALL and my treatment started that very day."
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Elaine added: "I was in complete shock – I actually laughed. Up to that point, I really thought it was just an infection. Treatment began immediately so I didn’t get a chance to process it, but over the years it has really taken a mental toll on me and the family."
Having first being diagnosed with the form of cancer in 2016, Elaine has relapsed a further three times and has been living with ALL for over eight years.
She continued: "Since 2016 I have relapsed three further times and have lived with cancer for eight years now. I have had numerous different treatments. The first was intensive chemotherapy that lasted from 2016 to 2019; the second a bone marrow transplant in 2020; the third a new T-cell treatment in 2023 and now in 2024 my treatment is being considered as my options are now somewhat limited."
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Last Christmas, doctors told Eliane that the cancer was terminal and that she had just months left to live.
The relapse caused clusters of leukaemia cells to form around her ribs and spine, which left the Geordie with six broken bones and dependent on a wheelchair.
"Being here today is something of a miracle," she added. "I’m not sure what the future holds for me or how much of a future I have, but what I do know is I will spend it in happiness. I do not want to waste one moment of this precious time I have been given."
Symptoms of ALL include bleeding or bruising easily, tiredness, shortness of breath and a high temperature, according to the NHS.
Callum Jones