A woman’s worrying symptoms were put down to the menopause by doctors – until it was discovered she had an aggressive form of cancer that carries an average life expectancy of five years.
Sarah Chapman used to lead a rather active lifestyle, including being an avid hockey player.
Until suddenly, she began feeling unusually tired.
And then, Sarah started suffering frequently from various illnesses, such as chest infections, and any wounds took significantly longer to heal.
While being referred to multiple specialists, all of them allegedly put her symptoms down to getting older and the menopause.
Sarah, who had a hunch something much worse was at play, was then diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) which has morphed into leukaemia.
“I knew what I was capable of, and how active I was, and I felt deep down something was wrong,” the former NHS audiologist, from Kent, told Need To Know.
“I was worried and didn’t like it hanging over me.
“However, I was relieved that I had finally been vindicated in knowing my body well enough to keep insisting something was wrong.”
Sarah, aged 67, recalls her symptoms beginning in 2011.
She had been a regular blood donor, ate a good diet and took iron supplements.
But it was no use; and soon, her haemoglobin became too low to be accepted.
Then, the aforementioned illnesses took hold, as well as night sweats and worsening skin.
On a walking holiday with her husband, Mike, she had to stop after a few steps.
Alarm bells instantly went off in her mind.
In 2013, after repeated doctors visits, she was finally given her diagnosis when a blood test result produced an anomaly.
She said: “I was told this would become leukaemia within the next three to five years.
“I had to have regular blood tests and bone marrow biopsies.
“I kept working, continued to umpire hockey and kept up with all my other sport activities.
“But, of course, it was always in the back of my mind.
“Every new symptom would make me wonder if this was ‘it’.”
In June 2016, the news Sarah had been dreading was delivered: it was now acute myeloid leukaemia – an aggressive form of blood cancer.
Every year almost 3,100 people in the UK are diagnosed with the disease and nearly 80% of patients won’t survive beyond five years, according to charity Leukaemia UK.
She underwent three rounds of chemotherapy and had to be in isolation for most of it.
Despite feeling weak, Sarah continued to keep fit and healthy.
And, after her final round, she was in remission.
A stem cell transplant was given, from her brother, Colin, which gave her a fighting chance at staying cancer-free.
Now, Sarah has returned to playing hockey and is enjoying life to the full in her retired years by competing at events.
She added: “Hockey has been a huge part of my life and a huge factor in who I am.
“To have all this to return to, and to have done so much since my leukaemia, makes me so grateful.”
Fiona Hazell, Chief Executive of Leukaemia UK, said: “We’re so grateful to Sarah for sharing her story to help raise awareness of leukaemia.
“Most of the signs and symptoms are not specific, so can often get mistaken for other illnesses or be explained away.
“Early diagnosis saves lives.
“That is why we encourage anyone with symptoms to make sure it’s nothing serious by speaking to their GP and asking for a full blood count test.”
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