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…
treatment
CML: I am the world’s longest living Gleevec, TKI, and Kinase Inhibitor survivor
April 12 2022 was my 65th Birthday! I Really Did Beat Those 1995 Terminal Cancer Odds! I celebrate a milestone 65th birthday, after being diagnosed wi…
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…
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…
Treatement Diary Part 3 (Obinutuzumab and Venetoclax) – The Good, The Bad and the Unexpected!
It's safe to say that 2022 didn't start in the way that I'd expected, nor did it have the optimism often associated with the coming of a new year. The…
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…
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…
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…
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…
The dreaded cancer diagnosis. My Non Hodgkins Lymphoma story
When I was diagnosed in 2013, I was devastated beyond anything I could’ve imagined. My future just disappeared. I didn’t feel well, I was losing weigh…
Clinical trial opportunity for Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) patients receiving blood transfusions
From time to time Blood Cancer Uncensored is asked to highlight clinical research studies or surveys. Today we are highlighting a survey which might u…
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 …
Finding myself and becoming friends with my blood despite Essential Thrombocythemia (ET) and Myelofibrosis (MF) #ThisIsBloodCancer
Here is Debra Kay Patella’s story. She started out with Essential Thrombocythemia (ET) and recently morphed into Myelofibrosis (MF) both…
Diagnosed after looking at my own blood down a microscope – #ThisIsBloodCancer
My cancer story begins in the year 2000 on a sunny day in May. I was in nursing school, in a blood module, looking deep into a slide of my own blood c…
Jenni talks about her AML diagnosis, treatment and recovery: #ThisIsBloodCancer Interview
In this video I'm interviewed by Adrian Warnock. We talk about my experience of being diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia at age 33, including my t…
Cancer free after 107 days of aggressive treatment for AML Nathaniel Nabena rang the bell: #ThisIsBloodCancer
Thank you to all of our readers who supported the campaign to raise the funding needed for Nathaniel. Blood cancer can be very brutal at times. But th…
Being treated for Acute Myeloid Leukemia during the COVID19 pandemic
Today Blood Cancer Uncensored is delighted to introduce our newest author, writer and "blood cancer recoverer", Jenni Elbourne. Today we share some sa…
USA representatives propose act to fund oral anticancer medicines the same way as IV chemotherapy
The USA currently has a funding system that treats IV cancer medications differently to oral ones. This can lead to huge differences in co-pays. In th…
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…
What is MRD and what significance does it have for me–CLL treatment reflections
Minimal Residual Disease or MRD is a common term used in CLL treatment and it can be tested from bone marrow and/or blood. It is often determined by a…
Treatment Diary Part 2 Encouraging Signs: Obinutuzumab and Venetoclax
Spoiler alert - it's working!! This is an unashamedly encouraging post, because that's my reality. In the third month of this year long treatment regi…
Treatment Diary Part 1 ….. and so it begins: Venetoclax and Obinituzimab
"So it looks like it's treatment time" was the message I sent to family and close friends following my video consultation with my consultant at the en…
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. …
What can I do to live longer with blood cancer?
What can we do to improve our chances of living for many years after a blood cancer diagnosis? Covers accepting treatment, healthy living, and mental health.
FCR Diary – Cycle 4 to 6 and my reflections
This post concludes my FCR chemotherapy treatment diary from two years ago. It is a warts and all story, and if you decide to read it please re…
FCR diary – Cycle 2 as an Inpatient
Today we continue publishing my two year old treatment diary. Please remember these posts come with a health warning. My experience will not be your e…
FCR Treatment Diary – an unexpected hospital admission
This is a continuation of a warts and all diary of my FCR treatment which happened two years ago and is now being published on the open web for the fi…
FCR Treatment Diary – Gratefulness during Cycle One
Two years ago this week I started chemotherapy as part of the FLAIR trial. Here I share my diary from that time. Please turn away if you are the sort …
FCR Chemotherapy diary – Treatment Looms
A friendly warning message As I explained yesterday, I am two years out this week from starting FCR chemotherapy. Spoiler alert: the treatment worked …
Two years ago I started FCR Chemotherapy
This week marks the two year anniversary of me starting FCR chemotherapy. The FCR stands for Fludarabine, Cyclophosphamide and Rituximab. This is stil…
Tumor Lysis Syndrome (TLS) is an Emergency we must ALL be alert to.
Did you know that Tumor Lysis Syndrome can occur spontaneously even for patients not receiving treatment. We all should know the symptoms of TLS as it…
Which Medicines Treat COVID-19? – Dexamethasone? Hydroxychloroquine? Antivirals? Monoclonal Antibodies?
Cut through the controversy and find out which medicines have been proven to work in Covid19 in randomised control trials.
The future of CLL treatment – time limited combination treatments?
What is your goal for treatment? Getting rid of as much CLL as possible and having a long remission? Or containing the CLL and putting it into reverse for a long time?
What is Duvelisib?
Tom Henry is the CLL Parmacist, and one of our authors. Join him as he introduces us to Duvelisib.
Introducing Tom Henry the CLL Pharmacist
It is our great honour to welcome the seventh member of the writing team here at Blood Cancer Uncensored: Tom Henry who is a specialist pharmacist, a …
Clonal evolution for dummies
In this Blood Cancer for Dummies article the focus is on clonal evolution which is the process by which cancer cells can acquire resistance to treatme…
Dealing with the threefold tyranny of a damaged immune system (Infections, Inflammation, Fatigue)
What can we do when cancer and chemo have led to a trail of destruction in our immune systems?
Monoclonal antibodies for dummies
We recently did an antibodies for dummies post. You might well ask why "monoclonal" antibodies gets its own dummy feature write up. That would be like…
Ibrutinib and BTK inhibitors for dummies
Ibrutinib is a relatively new and revolutionary drug that has changed the landscape for treating CLL . For many people, it might be the only leukemia …
A hospital admission in the COVID19 era
Just over three weeks ago I woke in the night with symptoms of severe asthma along with itchy skin and nose. For some reason health crises often seem …
Mutated and unmutated CLL for dummies
When told I had chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) four years ago, all I heard was "leukemia". Google soon became my best friend and worst enemy. I ju…
Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) a new approach
EHA25Virtual: A Paradigm Shift for the Treatment of Newly Diagnosed Older Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patients THE HAGUE, Netherlands, June 13, 2020&n…
Video: Prof Peter Hillmen Global Expert explains CLL
Watch this friendly and easy to understand interview with one of the top specialist doctors in the World on this form of blood cancer. Prof Hillmen ex…
What is Passive vaccination? Does Convalescent Plasma work? What is IVIG?
Passive Vaccination How can we help the immune system know how to fight the virus it has never seen before? You might have already read my post …
Could your blood save a life?
Three ways to save a life: 1. Donate blood. 2. Sign up to the Stem Cell Register. 3. Donate your Covid19 antibodies. #bloodcancer #kindnessofstrangers
Join a Blood Cancer Support Group
You do not have to be alone with your blood cancer. There are ways you can connect with others and get their advice encouragement and support. Some op…
Facing your giant
There are things in life that have no apparent way out. All of the therapists on the planet, no matter how hard they try to solve the problems, cannot. We all need help. We need a Savior bigger than the giant.