Overview
- Paul Angliss, 62, fractured his C3 vertebra after stubbing his toe in October 2024, leading doctors to diagnose multiple myeloma.
- Months of severe back pain preceded the break, including a painful August 2024 climb of Mount Fuji that he initially put down to wear and tear.
- Paramedics did not detect the cervical fracture at first; an A&E visit and MRI prompted a brace, further tests and a swift referral to St Bartholomew's Hospital.
- Scans revealed extensive bone damage with around 28 lesions in his spine; he received weekly chemotherapy from November 2024, an autologous stem cell transplant on April 10, 2025, and joined a drug trial on September 15.
- Clear blood tests in September and a bone marrow biopsy led to a remission confirmation on October 13, 2025, and he is now urging people with unexplained severe back pain to see their GP while supporting Blood Cancer UK and praising Maggie’s and Macmillan.