Leukaemia

Overview

In this section you can find out about experiences of leukaemia by seeing and hearing people share their personal stories on film.

Researchers travelled all around the UK to talk to 45 people in their own homes. Find out what people said about issues such as symptoms, treatment, work and family.

We hope you find the information here helpful and reassuring.

Richard Wilson introduces the Leukaemia website

Leukaemia preview

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Rani: About a year before I was diagnosed with leukaemia I was feeling down, under the weather, like, and not feeling quite all right. And I actually went to my GP and said, “I don’t have that energy which I used to have”.

Dianne: I sat down in the doctor's surgery and he held my hand. So I thought, oh, this isn’t going to be good. And he said, “I'm really sorry, Dianne, but you have leukaemia”.

Neil: The hospital I was in had a series of, well they referred them as one bedded wards, but basically I mean fundamentally a bit like going to a hotel with a single room and an en suite facilities.

Kelly: So my kids went to live with my Mum. I think that was the most devastating experience to me.

Mark: I was very lucky that I come from a very close family and my sister and I in particular are very close. All my friends gave me a lot of support, and you really do need that at times like that.

This section is from research by the University of Oxford.

Supported by:
The Kay Kendall Leukaemia Fund
Leukaemia Care

Publication: March 2010.

Last updated: December 2018.

Last reviewed: January 2025.