Overview

• Elaine Hold first presented with bruising, fatigue and breathlessness that were initially attributed to bronchitis after early blood tests appeared clear.
• An urgent hospital recall led to a diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, launching years of treatment that included chemotherapy, radiotherapy and a stem-cell transplant from a half-matched son.
• Despite multiple remissions, she relapsed repeatedly and never found a fully matched donor in nine years of searching.
• The latest relapse formed cancer clusters around her ribs and spine, caused six fractures and left her reliant on a wheelchair, with doctors telling her at Christmas she may have only months to live.
• Experts and charities highlight poorer adult outcomes in ALL, note roughly 750 UK adult cases annually and report that only 14% of the public can name key symptoms, urging patients to request full blood-count tests if worried.