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“I think it’s important that I tell people what’s going on with my illness as many people don’t know and I’d like for them to.
A few weeks ago, while still living at University College London Hospital (UCLH), I had a routine, post-bone marrow/stem cell transplant test and found out that I’d relapsed.
My transplant failed.
The doctors said I did everything right, and for a while things looked like they were going really well. Everything suggested that the transplant was going to work, but unexpectedly the new donor cells were unable to fight off the leukaemia.
There are now no longer any curative treatment options for doctors to give me.
The transplant was the strongest and most promising option for a cure, but the Leukaemia is too strong. The success of the transplant was never a sure thing, so it hasn’t come as a complete shock. But the news has still been devastating.
My medical teams at UCLH and Medway Maritime will continue to treat me with a very light chemo to try and keep the leukaemia supressed for as long as possible, but eventually it won’t be controllable. Doctors aren’t really able to give me a time frame as to when this will be, as it’s extremely unpredictable.
My Professor at UCLH and one of his senior colleagues at the neighbouring Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead are looking into medical trials from Germany which have had some successful results in prolonging time for terminal patients with my type of leukaemia. This particular trial will be coming to the UK at some point soon, and it’s something I’m going to look into and remain hopeful about.
After living on the transplant floor (T13) for the summer and autumn of 2011 and most of this winter, UCLH has sent me home so I can be with family, girlfriend and friends. I’m going into my local hospital every day for blood top-ups and blood products, plus other drugs to keep me as healthy as can be. Thankfully I’ve been feeling quite well and just enjoying being home after so long in hospital.
If you’re one of my friends or part of my family and you’re reading the above and finding this out for the first time, I’d always like to talk. I wish I could have let people know in a different way, but at least I can reach a many people as possible this way.
I’m really doing fine, and feel like I’m OK with everything…..as long as I’ve got everyone I want close by.”
Marcus
Marcus's Final Message
Winter 2012