A grandmother was given the devastating news that she had leukaemia a year and a half after she first felt that something was wrong. Julia Jones, 74, has urged people to be aware of the symptoms of the illness after she was given the upsetting news she had cancer.
Julia, from Preston in Lancashire, was initially told a lump she had found under her arm was just raised glands and that her extreme tiredness could be down to her age. But it was 18 months later that the pensioner was given the news that it was actually leukaemia - cancer of the white blood cells, LancsLive reports.
Despite seeing her doctor three times after noticing the lump, it was only when Julia had a routine mammogram that something was noticed. Initially suspecting it might be breast cancer, a biopsy was taken - but the grandmother was instead told she had chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). CLL progresses slowly over many years and tends to affect those over the age of 60.
Symptoms of CLL can include a high temperature, night sweats, persistent tiredness, shortness of breath, pale skin, swollen glands, unintentional weight lost, or swelling and discomfort in your tummy, according to the NHS.
Julia was referred to a haematologist and was put on 'watch and wait' for a while, but the following year she developed a chest infection and was admitted to hospital. Although she recovered well, Julia found she had trouble swallowing and an ENT consultant found she had lymphoma in her tongue, trachea and throat, so treatment was started.
Julia said: "I was fortunate enough to be offered the Flair trial, which consisted of six-monthly doses of rituximab and three tablets of ibrutinib daily for six years. I have just completed the trial and the indications are excellent: no CLL in my bone marrow and only some residual in my blood.
“I am still receiving four-weekly transfusions of immunoglobulins and I have been infection-free for about two years. I have a full and varied life and try not to think there is anything wrong with me.
“I feel very positive as I am in good hands and medical research is always moving forward. The future looks good."
Julia spoke about her diagnosis as charities warned that patients are being misdiagnosed or waiting too long for a blood test. Those affected are said to face "the luck of the draw" - with GPs often left without adequate support.
She added: "I think it is important to raise awareness amongst not only the public but the medical profession, who may not be fully aware of the symptoms of the illness. If not many people with blood cancers are seen by GPs, it may not be immediately obvious to them. We all need to know what to look for and not be afraid to ask questions."
More than 10,000 cases of leukaemia are diagnosed every year with the disease claiming 5,000 lives annually. Survival stands at just over 50 per cent - making it one of the most deadly forms of cancer.
Zack Pemberton-Whiteley, chief executive of Leukaemia Care, said: "A blood test is needed to rule out leukaemia. A full blood count [FBC] is a cheap, everyday test that can also help explore what other causes there might be for the patient's symptoms."
Early diagnosis saves lives, with people having a lower chance of survival if diagnosed in an emergency. Mr Pemberton-Whiteley said: "NICE guidelines clearly state that a full blood count is urgent when leukaemia symptoms are present, for any of these symptoms alone.
"It is imperative that GPs have the capacity and support to order and interpret blood tests. We are calling on the government to set out how they will increase GPs numbers, to adhere to these NICE guidelines.
"We also call on NHS bodies, both locally and nationally, to provide more support for GPs, such as better access to colleagues in haematology departments."
While more than 10,000 cases are diagnosed every year, 37 per cent of these are diagnosed in an emergency setting - reducing chances of survival. The highest such presentation rate for any cancer is acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (66 per cent) - the most common childhood cancer.
Patients are often too unwell to cope with the treatments for leukaemia, which are known to have a harsh effect on the body. The shock research coincides with World Leukaemia Day. The 'Spot Leukaemia' campaign is running throughout Blood Cancer Awareness Month.
Leukaemia Care and Leukaemia UK are calling for GPs to be supported properly to ensure prompt blood tests. The charities have found that patients are having to visit a medical professional multiple times before getting a blood test and subsequent diagnosis.
In many cases patients visit a GP multiple times with symptoms such as fatigue, bruising, unusual bleeding or repeated infections, before experiencing more severe symptoms and needing emergency A&E treatment.
A survey of 253 leukaemia patients found a third of reported being given a blood test straight away (within 48 hours) after first going to their GP with symptoms. One in seven (15 per cent) said they visited their GP more than three times before they were referred to hospital.
NICE guidelines for GPs in England call for GPs to organise an urgent blood test within 48 hours for people with unexplained bruising, extreme fatigue, repeated infections and unexplained fever. But the charities found around a quarter (23.5 per cent) of patients with acute leukaemias said it took three to four months to get a blood test. Only 68 per cent of people were given a blood test within 48 hours..
GPs face huge challenges - not only due to capacity issues but also due to the vast array of conditions, many of whose symptoms overlap, that they must try to diagnose. Staffing issues have deterred some from offering blood tests.
Analysing the results will take time that they simply don’t have. GPs told the charities they often lack capacity to fully interpret the blood tests and processes regarding blood test interpretation are inconsistent across the UK.
The Health and Social Care Select Committee recently reported the number of full-time equivalent GPs fell by more than 700 over three years to March 2022 - despite a pledge to deliver 6,000 more. Fiona Hazell, chief executive of Leukaemia UK said: "The earlier that people are diagnosed, the greater the range of treatment options available to them.
"By enabling patients to have access to the best range of treatments as early as possible, early diagnosis combined with advancements in treatments thanks to research, can help to save and improve lives. A leukaemia diagnosis has a devastating impact at any stage, but by detecting it early via a blood test, the additional anxiety, complications, and potential loss of life caused by an emergency diagnosis can be avoided.
"It is vitally important that the capacity for blood testing and pathology is increased to enable GPs to offer a blood test at the earliest opportunity and that there is more support for GPs to interpret the blood test results too."
