Wes Streeting, the UK’s new Health Minister is a Cancer Survivor
This article was first published on my Patheos blog as UK Health Minister: Cancer Patient, Christian, Gay, Realist I was going to publish this yesterd…
Adrian Warnock
Dr. Adrian Warnock is a medical doctor and clinical research expert who was himself diagnosed with blood cancer in May 2017. Adrian worked in the pharmaceutical industry for fifteen years helping to run the clinical trials that bring us new medicines and communicate the results. Before this he practised in the UK’s National Health Service (NHS), as a psychiatrist, for eight years.
Adrian is a published author, the founder of Blood Cancer Uncensored, and has written a Christian blog since 2003 at Patheos. He is passionate about learning how to approach suffering with hope and compassion. Adrian’s articles are not medical advice and he is not a haematologist or blood cancer doctor. Always seek individualised advice from your health care professionals. You can e-mail Adrian here.
D-Day: Defying Definition by Diagnoses Seven Years On
Seven years ago today, I was diagnosed with a form of Blood Cancer that has tried to destroy my identity and define who I am. Today, on my personal D…
VIDEO: The truth about living with Myeloma, a type of Blood Cancer
Our friends at Blood Cancer UK (the leading British blood cancer charity) have produced a series of video discussions and made them available on YouTu…
Six years of living with blood cancer
Today marks the day when, six years ago, my life changed forever as I was diagnosed with blood cancer. That night I experienced the first of many sle…
When Covid finally caught me
On April 21 the unthinkable and yet perhaps inevitable happened. I had worsening of my asthma and what felt like severe hay fever. After a spell in th…
Evusheld: UK parliament debates our petiton
In March 2022 I started a petition on the parliament website urging the rapid role out of this life saving medicine. This week the petiton was debated…
Evusheld betrayal – UK Govt still gaslighting the immune suppressed rather than protecting us
This morning the BBC are reporting that the Department of Health has ruled out "for now" buying doses of the only preventative antibody treatment agai…
You are NOT alone. Join 1000 others like you affected by blood cancer
Blood Cancer Uncensored is not just a global website. We are also a Facebook forum which has just reached its 1000th member! You are most welcome to …
Safe Haven – when God leads you to a new peaceful place. Colchester here I come.
After a turbulent five years in many areas of my life, God has been suddenly remarkably leading me in the last few months. Following a string of God-…
Compassion fatigue, the Saviour complex and Benevolent detachment
How to share one another's burdens without carrying them First posted on Adrian's Christian Blog. Whilst it does include some references to Christian…
On World Blood Cancer Day – ITN video “This is Blood Cancer”
Simon Thomas is a TV sports presenter who's wife sadly died three days after a diagnosis of blood cancer. He presents this informative and engaging pr…
Five years of living with blood cancer uncertainty: No longer desolate. The battle between hope and reality
Another year has passed. Today is the anniversary, not of my actual diagnosis with blood cancer (that came 22 long days later), but rather the day I b…
UK: 1 in 22 COVID deaths are now in people with blood cancer despite shielding and antivirals. 1/63 of all Blood Cancer patients have died from COVID.
How many more deaths will it take before the government finally buys Evusheld to protect immune compromised patients, and makes it much easier to get …
Could YOU help explain the plight of blood cancer patients feeling unsafe and unable to get the treatments they want?
We want to hear your stories. Sadly we are even hearing of people who tried and failed to get preventative COVID19 treatments, or the antivirals for w…
iNews reports on Astra Zeneca’s criticism of the UK government for not negotiating to buy Evusheld
The staggering news that the UK government has not even bothered to open negotiations with Astra Zeneca about Evusheld is covered in the iNews this mo…
Astra Zeneca blasts UK government’s “commercially sensitive” Evusheld excuses as 1 in 13 Brits have COVID19
Ministers continue make excuses on a regular basis that they cannot discuss any negotiations that may or may not be going on with the maker of EVUSHEL…
Sign our petition to fund Evusheld for blood cancer and other causes of immune compromise. These preventative antibodies massively reduce the risk of Covid19 hospitalisations and death
We were elated at the approval of a treatment which provides a similar preventative shield as vaccines for those who don't make their own antibodies. …
CNN investigation reveals thousands of doses of Evusheld are unused on pharmacy shelves whilst blood cancer patients are still dying of COVID19
Soon after the US Food and Drug Administration gave the green light to Evusheld, a new drug to prevent Covid-19, pharmacist Tom Henry alerted his blog…
Q and A with Immunologist Dr S. Shahzad Mustafa at the Blood Cancer Uncensored weekly Zoom Call
This is a Q and A with Immunologist Dr S. Shahzad Mustafa at our weekly Zoom Call. We explore issues related to our risk of infections including COVD-…
What does it mean to beat blood cancer? New charity vision statement
One of our favourite charities here at Blood Cancer Uncensoered is Blood Cancer UK. They recently set a group to work on what it means to beat blood c…
Astra Zeneca’s Evusheld preventative COVID19 Monoclonal Antibody injection licensed in UK. But so far the NHS refuses to pay for it!
Finally many months after the USA, the UK regulator has approved this product designed for patients like me with blood cancer and other causes of immu…
UK NHS sends out another batch of Covid19 treatment emails
Many of us have been waiting MONTHS for this and have sent countless emails informing everyone we can think of that we were somehow left off the list …
Had Evusheld? You need a top up dose asap to increase protection against new variants
The FDA has a sensible approach about monoclonal antibodies. There is a recognition that if you can get to a plasma level of antibodies which in a lab…
Thrown to the wolves by the UK: the end of all COVID protections and no more tests except for those on the new at greatest risk list #DoInotmatter #BloodCancer #immunocompromised
Today I feel betrayed. I understand the desire to save money and get back to normal life. But we, the 500,000 who are immune compromised due to blood …
International COVID-19 Blood Cancer Coalition (ICBCC). Patient Impact and Recommendations. Protecting immunocompromised blood cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic
Blood Cancer Uncensored was privileged to be a part of project to outline the impact of the pandemic on people with blood cancer and other immune comp…
Brian Koffman pays tribute to Tom Henry as the family set up a memorial fund to continue his legacy of work for blood cancer patients
Today we share another tribute to Tom Henry, the CLL Pharmacist. This one comes from the founder of a USA blood cancer charity which Tom was involved …
Is COVID19 risk to blood cancer patients now at all time high?
Blood cancer patients made up 1 in 20 of all deaths caused by COVID19 between October and December 2021. This was twice as high a proportion of COVID1…
Rest in Peace. Tom Henry, The CLL Pharmacist and Patient
I am sorry to report the loss of one of our beloved authors here at blood cancer uncensored, and a regular attender of our weekly zoom call. Tom was a…
UK NHS admits priority PCR error. Some kits sent out to CLL patients missed off. Hundreds have missed out on treatment referrals
Until very recently the NHS was denying that there had been any problems with identifying those at highest risk of COVID19 in order to offer them prio…
Blood Cancer Uncensored in the iNews
In the last few days it has been our honour to be quoted twice in the iNews site which also exists as a newspaper. Many thanks to Paul Gallagher for w…
UK: PCR requirement for COVID-19 monoclonal antibodies and antivirals to be dropped but patients now being refused treatment for not being sick enough yet
Government backs down after patient community complaints reported by Blood Cancer Uncensored and iNews.co.uk but new barrier to life saving treatment …
UPDATE on UK Monoclonal antibody roll out – dangerous misinformation, denial and how to avoid deadly delay
I thought I would share an update on my previous post on navigating NHS chaos in regard to getting the monoclonal antibodies and antivirals. This is b…
Video update on how to protect ourselves from omicron and get monoclonal antibodies
Video update on how to protect ourselves from omicron. If you are in the UK and havent got your priority PCR test at home yet call 119 and ask them to…
Navigating UK NHS chaos regarding COVID-19 monoclonal antibody treatments
The UK roll out of community COVID-19 treatment with monoclonal antibodies is failing some blood cancer and other immune compromised patients. NHS Eng…
Covid19 positive? How to get life saving treatments quickly. And how to avoid catching omicron in the first place.
Antivirals and monoclonal antibodies are life saving, game changing treatments, especially for those of us with blood cancer and hence a disordered im…
Vague symptoms – apparently unrelated and hard to diagnose: ThisIsBloodCancer
How do you know if YOU have blood cancer? On the last day of Blood Cancer Awareness month let's think about this question together. With many other ty…
Not everything natural is good for you. Don’t reject modern medicines and hope supplements will heal you instead
Supplements vs Medicines Some people believe supplements are “natural” and therefore feel comfortable to take them whilst some of the same peoole are …
Emotional distress and anxiety – how to get help #ThisIsBloodCancer
Whether you are in watch and wait, in the middle of aggressive treatment, or finished treatment and out the other side with a remission, then anxiety …
Meet the Blood Cancer Uncensored Leadership Team: #ThisIsBloodCancer
Who are we? What are we trying to accomplish with the website, Facebook group and Zoom call? Blood Cancer Uncensored is pleased to support the interna…
Acute or chronic which is worse? What does AML ALL CLL CML NHL DLBL mean?
When you walk out of that first diagnosis appointment all some people remember is the word "lymphoma", "leukemia" or "myeloma". But to understand what…
Regeneron COVID Monoclonal antibodies finally approved in the UK. AZ antibodies prevented ALL severe infections and deaths!
It only took a year after the USA's FDA, but the UK's MHRA has finally approved the Regeneron monoclonal antibody cocktail! There is also great news a…
How to persuade your British GP to give your teenagers COVID-19 vaccine to protect you
This is another crucial update to our “warn, test, protect and treat” four point plan to stay alive as this virus continues to rage around us and gove…
USA blood cancer patients – Monoclonal antibodies now available if you have you been exposed to COVID19 or are you at high risk of exposure. When will the UK catch up?
Regular readers will be aware that we have been speaking passive immunity for COVID19 for over a year since the USA approved Regeneron's cocktail for …
Strength in Weakness
Anyone who has a chronic illness is likely to have heard the words “keep strong!” They are normally well meaning words. And in one sense there is noth…
Can Intravenous Vitamin C cure my blood cancer? An approach to supplements and healthy eating
I was recently asked what I thought of high dose vitamin C infusions. The lady who asked explained how frustrating it was to just watch and wait rathe…
Four steps to save the lives of blood cancer patients from COVID-19: Warn, Test, Protect, Treat
I’m going to keep this post really simple. There’s a longer article that explains it in more detail. But I offer here a four step plan that can save o…
Lies about Vaccines and the Immune Deficient: Open Letter to UK Government, MHRA and APBI code of practice authority
The sad thing about this outrageous false Government communication scandal is that an opportunity was squandered to make the important point that immu…
10,000 Page views this month here at Blood Cancer Uncensored
Over just the last 30 days this site has received over 10,000 page views! This would not be possible, obviously, without you the readers. Especially t…
How to make sense of your blood test results – a CLL Society Webinar
Our friends and partners at the CLL Society has put on this excellent webinar to help you decode your blood results. Although it is targeted at CLL pa…
THE most dangerous time for blood cancer patients as only 20% told vaccines may not work for them
The plight and high level of risk faced by the hundreds of thousands of people with blood cancer, and others who are immune compromised, has been scan…
Convalescent plasma improves survival in blood cancer patients with COVID-19
We learnt recently of data that shows a man made and hence purer and stronger antibody cocktail can save lives in patients who do not make antibodies …
It is NOW time to give monoclonal antibodies to ALL blood cancer patients who don’t respond to vaccines
This morning the RECOVERY trial reported crucial and encouraging results. It shows that the Regeneron man-made monoclonal antibodies against COVID19 s…
A growing family needs more leaders: thanks to Sue and Phil for stepping up!
Blood Cancer Unceonseed the website, the Facebook group and the weekly zoom call are all growing! (see the group for more details or email us) Soon we…
Living my life at 3am: an illustration of fatigue
Does this resonate with you? For many of us with blood cancer fatigue is so far from being "just tired" it is hard to explain its debilitating crushin…
Four Years from diagnosis: acceptance, ongoing challenges, looking better than I feel
There is no point me retelling the story of what happened in the nineteen days between getting sick with pneumonia and the 20 May 2017, the day my dia…
Video: The Blood Cancer Uncensored family on social media and Zoom
We are not just a website but an online community of people who have blood cancer or a loved one who does. Join us on our weekly Zoom (details on our …
Funding Blood Cancer Families and Research. How to donate or get the help you need.
This article is for two groups of people. The first is those moved by the plight of those wirh blood cancer who would like to donate to help with the …
Just how bad is my immune system? How immunocompromised am I?
Blood tests which predict Immune System function and what they mean Individual medical advice is required to adapt these general comments to your clin…
New treatments in Hodgkin lymphoma
Our friends at Patient Power havd a great new video about some new developments in the treatment of one of the more aggressive types of lymphocyte blo…
Leukemia, lymphoma or both? The curious case of CLL and SLL
One type of blood cancer that seems to cause a lot of confusion has two names. For more than twenty years what was once thought to be two different diseases has been considered as one. And to make matters worse this disease is both a leukemia and a type of non Hodgkins lymphoma (NHL). No wonder it gets confusing! Some people even think the doctor told them they have four different diseases (Leukemia, Lymphoma, CLL and SLL).
How Easter offers hope to suffering blood cancer patients
In this video Lynn Bailey one of the members of our Blood cancer Uncensorsd community mixes his own story of handling the shock that his own diagnosis…
Why and how to get antibody tested after COVID19 vaccines
Don't tell me what percentage of blood cancer patients the vaccine works for. Tell me if it has worked for me! How do I get tested?
Which test do I need? What do the results mean?
Which test do I need? What do the results mean?
UK shielding not over yet for blood cancer patients
This is just a short article to make the point that although the headline is that shielding "ends" on March 31 the truth is we are far from safe yet a…
How to Bake Sour Dough Spelt Bread
I am going to show you how to become your very own baker. It is so much easier than you think! And you do not need a bread maker machine. In fact sour…
Sour Dough Spelt Scones
Today I introduce a new section of our site. A home for awesome (=A1), heavenly, mostly healthy. and easy to cook recipes. Several of our authors plan…
How can patients and their partners or carers best approach a blood cancer diagnosis together
The challenges, the pitfalls, the lessons learnt from over 20 years of a personal journey and learning from others through her work Patient Power Join…
When the Doctor Becomes the Patient – A Blood Cancer Journey
Some people find it is a bit strange when a doctor is the one who is sick. In this 30 min talk I explain what it was like for me, and share a few less…
Two more vaccines successful in clinical trials – working in UK, South African, and South American variants. Some data in immune compromised
Yesterday we had some more great news on the vaccine front. Since all the current vaccines work in a similar way because they use the original COVID19…
Dramatic early COVID19 vaccine effect in Israel: 60% reduction in infections
A dramatic plunge in positive coronavirus swab rates have been seen in the first 50,000 over 60's vaccinated in Israel. Very encouraging data has been…
Do Covid19 vaccines stop the disease spreading?
Vaccines work by preventing infections altogether or by reducing the severity of disease. But do the new COVID19 vaccines also prevent us from passing…
Are COVID-19 vaccines made from aborted babies? What is HEK293?
No babies were aborted in order to make COVID-19 vaccines. But a human cell line originating from an embryo was used (HEK293). This article briefly explains the science and ethical thinking about the vaccines.
COVID19 infection, antibodies and vaccination – video explanation
Right now 1 in 30 Londoners are infective for COVID19 and the NHS here is in crisis. What do we know about how the body fights this disease. Why do some people end up in hospital? How can a blood saturation monitor help you? What do we know about antibodies?
Why is the UK delaying the second dose of COVID19 vaccines – the evidence explained
The UK Government medical advisors have made a pragmatic decision to delay the second doses of COVID19 vaccines to up to twelve weeks. It is believed that this is better for the whole population. We examine why.
What is the evidence for the use of COVID19 vaccines?
Over the next few articles, I will answer questions about COVID19 vaccines based on their published clinical research. Today: "Do some people get COVID19 despite being vaccinated?"
How well do vaccines work in blood cancer patients? The evidence for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)
How well do vaccines work in patients with blood cancer? This study looked at treated and untreated patients with CLL to assess vaccine response rates.
Volunteering for a monoclonal antibody COVID19 clinical trial
It must be stressed that this is of course still an experimental treatment, although there is clearly a lot of emerging evidence that antibodies are important in fighting COVID19. So there is a reasonable hope that recipients of this treatment like this will most likely experience at least some degree of protection from the COVID19 virus which is not dependent on their own immune system.
Top Blood Cancer Uncensored Posts of 2020
Blood Cancer Uncensored was born during the first lockdown. Many of these posts outline reliable information about COVID19 in an easy to understand style.
How prayer helped me in my blood cancer journey
This website is run by a group of authors of various faith backgrounds. And I am always on the look out for new volunteers of all faiths or none. We a…
Should Blood Cancer Patients take the COVD19 vaccine?
All I want for Christmas is a Covid19 Vaccine. Tomorrow the UK will become the first county to vaccinate members of its population with an authorised and fully-tested vaccine against Coronavirus. Considering most of us had not even heard of coronavirus a year ago this is a remarkable feat of modern science.
Venetoclax and obinutuzumab funded in England by NICE, acalabrutinib licensed- the end of FCR chemotherapy for CLL?
Today NICE announced that they have agreed to fund Venetocolax plus obinutuzamab for all first line patients with CLL who want to take it in England. …