Latest news with #leukaemia
BBC News
11 hours ago
- Health
- BBC News
Preston boy returns after cancer to save football team from relegation
A 13-year-old boy who returned to football for the first time since a stem-cell transplant has scored the winner to save his team from of Lostock Hall, Preston, was diagnosed with a rare form of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) in June last year, his mother, Lucy, received "rapturous" applause when he came on in the final five minutes for Lostock Hall JFC U13s and scored the match-winning goal with his one and only touch of the ball to save his team from going 42, said there were "tears of joy" at her son's incredible comeback after he had worked to build up his strength again following gruelling chemotherapy and "a year from hell". Lucy said Harry was "thrilled" to seal a 4-3 win for his team in the crucial last game of the season and then relished the goal celebrations with his teammates. "He had such a lovely reception from everyone when he came on - and then to score was just amazing," she said. Lostock Hall JFC U13s team manager Mark Fahey said: "It was such a special moment." He said it was "really emotional" for the football family to have Harry back playing in the team but for him to score the goal to keep them in the Central Lancashire Junior Football League's Premier division was "unbelievable"."There was an expectation we would be relegated but we were just happy Harry was going to be involved," he added. Before his diagnosis, Lucy said Harry had a few aches and pains in his legs and back which she initially put down to growing pain in May last she took him to see a GP when he started to get headaches during and after playing sport, too. She said he had a blood test and then on 12 June she was told by the GP to take him straight to Royal Manchester Children's following day he was diagnosed with AML. "Our world was turned upside down," she then emerged Harry had a very rare mutation of AML and after chemotherapy he would need a stem cell transplant, Lucy said. She said his older sister, Phoebe, 17, was not a match but luckily a match had been found from an umbilical cord via the NHS Stem Cell Donor family, who are still being supported by the Teenage Cancer Trust, do not know the cord donor who saved Harry's life only that he is from the was discharged from hospital at the end of November last year and returned to school full time in February. Lucy said his incredible "bouncing back" meant so much and his family wanted to spread this positive message so others in similar situations could see "there can be light in the darkest of times". Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Expert warns never to ignore common summer problem - it can be a 'hidden' cancer warning sign
A leading medic has warned the public to be vigilant of a common cancer symptom that is all too often overlooked—particularly as temperatures begin to rise. Dr Suhail Hussain, a private GP, urged people to pay attention to night sweats, which can be more than just a result of warm weather. In some cases, he said, they may signal serious underlying conditions such as leukaemia or lymphoma. 'Night sweats are a common phenomenon, and one that's far more likely to occur on hot, sticky nights,' Dr Hussain explained. 'But persistent or unexplained sweating during sleep shouldn't be ignored—particularly if it happens alongside other symptoms like weight loss or fatigue.' With temperatures forecast to rise across the UK in the coming days, many people will experience disrupted sleep and wake up with sweat-soaked sheets. But Dr Hussain said it's important not to dismiss the symptom outright, especially if it continues once the weather cools. 'The occurrence of such symptoms should not merely be dismissed as 'oh well it's just hot outside'. Speaking to The Express Dr Suhail Hussain added: 'Night sweats can be a sign of something more serious, such as a serious infection, the menopause—or even cancer. 'Sweats associated with cancer are normally drenching—literally. You can wake up with your pyjamas and bed sheets wringing wet with sweat.' If night sweats occur alongside other symptoms—such as fatigue, unexplained bruising, pain, flushed skin, palpitations, or aching joints and muscles—it's a particular cause for concern, Dr Hussain said. Sweating throughout the day, regardless of temperature or exertion, is another red flag. Swollen lymph nodes in the neck, groin or abdomen can also point to blood cancers like leukaemia or lymphoma. These glands help filter infection, and swelling may signal the body is fighting something more serious. And, when cancerous cells break away from a tumour, they can become stuck in nearby lymph nodes, causing them to swell. 'Other rare cancers can also cause sweating, 'Dr Hussain added. 'A group of cancers known as carcinoids affect hormonal function vie the neuroendocrine system, and hence may result in excess sweating.' The neuroendocrine system is made up of nerve pathways and neuroendocrine cells—specialised cells that receive signals from the nervous system and release hormones into the bloodstream. These hormones regulate essential functions such as growth, metabolism, and development. When cancer arises in these cells, it can alter how they grow and function, often leading to excess hormone production and abnormal cell proliferation. Dr Hussain cautioned: 'The bottom line is that if you feel like sweaty Betty or perspiring Pete and it's going on a bit too long, then head over to your GP and get it checked out.' This warning comes as a young woman was diagnosed with blood cancer after putting down her itchy skin and night sweats to grief and anxiety, after losing her dad to colon cancer last year. After experiencing two other worrying symptoms, chest pain and fatigue, Marly Garnreiter, 27, went to her GP for answers. Her scans revealed a 'big mass' on her left lung and she was subsequently diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma—a deadly type of blood cancer. Around 2,200 people are diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in the UK each year, according to Cancer research UK. It is a rare type of blood cancer that develops in the lymphatic system, which is a network of vessels and glands spread throughout the body that are responsible for getting rid of waste and fighting infections. In Hodgkin lymphoma, the cells within this system develop abnormally and form swellings near the lymph glands, such as in the neck, armpit and groin. The damaged cells also lose their infection-fighting properties, making patients more vulnerable to infection. Hodgkin lymphoma can develop at any age, but it mostly affects men between 20 and 40 years of age and those over 75. Symptoms of Hodgkin lymphoma can vary widely, as not all patients will develop obvious swellings or growths. Night sweats, unintentional weight loss, a high temperature, persistent cough and itchy skin are all other, lesser-known symptoms. For some patients, the collection of abnormal cells happens in the abdomen, inside the body, leading to digestive symptoms like indigestion and abdominal pain. Persistent tiredness and excessive bleeding can also be signs, as can pain in the lymph glands after drinking alcohol.
The Independent
4 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Made-to-order ‘before midnight' transfusion helps save mother's life
A woman saved by a 'fake immune system' blood donation has described how her treatment has given her a 'lifeline' as she urged people to sign up to become blood donors. Fahreen Virani, 42, said her life came 'crashing down' when she was diagnosed with leukaemia last year. After chemotherapy she needed a stem cell transplant but was struck down by pneumonia which was not responding to usual treatments. As a result, Mrs Virani was told she needed a special 'before midnight' transplant of components taken from blood. Granulocytes are white blood cells which attack and break down bacteria, fungi and viruses. But they have a short shelf life and have to be given to a recipient before midnight the day after donation. Transfusions of granulocytes are made using normal blood donations but have to be quickly tested and processed before being rushed to hospital. Mrs Virani, a dentist from Waltham Forest in north-east London, said: 'I remember waking up early every day thinking 'are they here, are they here?' 'If you go past midnight, they have to dispose of them, they expire, that's why I was always so eager. 'I knew this would lessen the fungal pneumonia and that then I would be fitter and healthier so I could have the stem cell transplant. 'They drastically helped me to be ready for the transplant, they were a lifeline.' Mrs Virani, who has a son, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia in February 2024 after noticing symptoms of tiredness, backache and low haemoglobin counts. 'I was terrified. I had a boy who was going to turn four two days later,' she said. 'We had a young family, we had just moved house, and everything came crashing down.' She had chemotherapy so her body would accept a stem cell transplant but the chemotherapy also prevented her bone marrow from making enough white blood cells, making her vulnerable to the fungal pneumonia. 'The doctors said that when someone has a stem cell transplant there's a 10% chance it will result in death but with the fungal pneumonia it was 30%,' Mrs Virani said. 'They treated me with antifungals but that didn't fully work, so that's why they started the granulocytes – it would give me a fake immune system.' Each granulocytes transfusion is made for a single patient. A standard transfusion is two packs, with each pack made from 10 blood donations. Fewer than 2,000 packs are sent to hospitals each year, NHS Blood and Transplant said. As a result of the treatment, Mrs Virani received her stem cell transplant in July last year. 'I can walk my son to school every day,' she said. 'We can go to Hyde Park and hire a bike. A few months ago, I never dreamed I would be able to do that. 'The donors whose blood was used for the granulocytes are in my prayers every night. I am so immensely grateful. I don't know where I would be without them.' NHS Blood and Transplant has highlighted low blood stocks in England and concerns have been raised over a dip in donors over the summer. Gerry Gogarty, director of blood supply at NHS Blood and Transplant, said: 'Your blood contains all kinds of components such as red blood cells, plasma, platelets, and white blood cells, which can all be separated out to save or improve several lives. 'So as well helping people with your red cells, the same donation could give someone like Fahreen a potentially lifesaving immune system boost. 'But to keep supplying hospitals this summer we need more donors. 'We hope Fahreen's story shows the unusual and unexpected ways that blood is so vital to the wider NHS. 'Our stocks are low and we need people to register and book appointments at
BBC News
4 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Family's appeal as boy told cancer has returned on 16th birthday
The family of a boy from Lincoln have launched an urgent plea for a stem cell donor after being told his cancer had returned on his 16th birthday. Reece Khan has been told he faced gruelling treatment and has been given a one-in-five chance of survival by family was now working with the charity Anthony Nolan to find a stem cell donor. Reece's mother, Selina Niman, 51, a care worker from Lincoln, said the news had "broken" the family. 'Horrendous' Reece was initially diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, a rare cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow, when he was diagnosis came days before the first Covid lockdown in March Niman said it was "absolutely devastating" for the family, adding: "It was horrendous. And because it was Covid, we couldn't have any visitors up here." Reece, who has a love of baking and watching food programmes, also had further complications due to having Type 1 was told he was cancer-free 18 months ago after three and a half years of he started getting headaches earlier this year and later found out his cancer had returned and spread to his family said his chemotherapy would now be much stronger and he would need radiotherapy and a stem cell Niman said: "We're just broken as a family. We just don't know what else to do or where to go. Words cannot explain how we feel now."I just want to jump in his hospital bed and swap places with him." As Reece is mixed race, it will be statistically harder for him to find a stem cell donor. Charity Anthony Nolan said people from minority ethnic backgrounds often had rarer tissue types which made it harder to find matching donors. Reece's brother, Kyle, 25, has been tested and is a half charity said it was searching worldwide registers to find a full match and give the treatment the best chance of Bentley, head of programme and community recruitment at the charity, said: "It's vital that we raise awareness of stem cell donation and encourage more people to join the register."We know that younger stem cell donors give patients the best chance of survival. "That's why we're calling on healthy 16 to 30-year-olds to join the register now, so that people like Reece can have a second chance at life." Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
BBC News
4 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Made-to-order blood transfusion helps save London mother's life
A woman from north-east London said her life came "crashing down" when she was diagnosed with leukaemia last year, but was given a "lifeline" when she was saved by a blood donation that acted like a "fake immune system".Fahreen Virani, 42, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia in February 2024 after noticing symptoms of tiredness, backache and low haemoglobin chemotherapy, the dentist from Waltham Forest needed a stem cell transplant, but contracted pneumonia which was not responding to usual treatments. As a result, Mrs Virani was told she needed a special "before midnight" transplant of components taken from blood. "I was terrified. I had a boy who was going to turn four two days later," she said."We had a young family, we had just moved house, and everything came crashing down." Ms Virani had chemotherapy so her body would accept a stem cell transplant however the chemotherapy also prevented her bone marrow from making enough white blood cells, making her vulnerable to the fungal pneumonia."The doctors said that when someone has a stem cell transplant there's a 10% chance it will result in death but with the fungal pneumonia it was 30%," Ms Virani said."They treated me with antifungals but that didn't fully work, so that's why they started the granulocytes – it would give me a fake immune system." Granulocytes are white blood cells which attack and break down bacteria, fungi and viruses but they have a short shelf life and have to be given to a recipient before midnight the day after granulocytes transfusion is made for a single patient and a standard transfusion consists of two packs, with each one made from 10 blood donations. They have to be quickly tested and processed before being rushed to hospital."I remember waking up early every day thinking 'are they here, are they here?'"If you go past midnight, they have to dispose of them, they expire, that's why I was always so eager."They drastically helped me to be ready for the transplant, they were a lifeline."As a result of the treatment, Ms Virani received her stem cell transplant last July."I can walk my son to school every day," she said. "We can go to Hyde Park and hire a bike. A few months ago, I never dreamed I would be able to do that."The donors whose blood was used for the granulocytes are in my prayers every night. I am so immensely grateful. I don't know where I would be without them." 'Need more donors' Fewer than 2,000 packs are sent to hospitals each year, NHS Blood and Transplant said.A spokesperson added they were low blood stocks in England and raised concerns over a dip in donors over the Gogarty, from NHS Blood and Transplant, said: "Your blood contains all kinds of components such as red blood cells, plasma, platelets, and white blood cells, which can all be separated out to save or improve several lives."So as well helping people with your red cells, the same donation could give someone like Fahreen a potentially lifesaving immune system boost."But to keep supplying hospitals this summer we need more donors."We hope Fahreen's story shows the unusual and unexpected ways that blood is so vital to the wider NHS."
