Mark Chandler: Blood Cancer and Me
Each year around 1,150 people in Kent and Medway are diagnosed with blood cancer*.
Blood cancer is the UK’s third biggest cancer killer. However, awareness and understanding of blood cancer are much lower than for other types of cancer.
This September – Blood Cancer Awareness month – Kent and Medway Cancer Alliance (KMCA) is publishing a series of short films: ‘Blood Cancer and Me’.
In his own words, Mark Chandler, a 49-year-old dad from Folkestone, who is living with a rare type of blood cancer called acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), shares his experience.
Over the series of six short films, Mark tells his story of diagnosis, treatment, experimental chemotherapy, a stem cell transplant and remission.
Mark, who was 47 when diagnosed, and at one point was told he had two to four weeks to live, is sharing his story to raise awareness of blood cancer and the impact on both patients and families.
‘Worry and confusion’
Mark said: “I didn’t have too much understanding about cancer and even less about blood cancer.
“I didn’t even realise leukaemia was blood cancer. I had no real comprehension of that.
“Immediately it was worry and questions about mortality – in my head and to the consultant as well.”
Watch Blood Cancer and Me
Life before blood cancer
“I didn’t have too much understanding about cancer and even less about blood cancer.
“I didn’t even realise leukaemia was blood cancer. I had no real comprehension of that.
“Immediately it was worry and questions about mortality – in my head and to the consultant as well.
“Worry and confusion. Just a complete lack of understanding about what blood cancer was and specifically acute myeloid leukaemia.”
Dealing with the diagnosis
“Typical symptoms are fatigue, night sweats, bleeding and bruising. I didn’t have any of that.”
“I was given a lot of paper-based information and I didn’t really want to read any of it.
“I don’t know if that was me just burying my head in the sand, but my point of view was that I don’t want to know what the effects of this particular chemotherapy might be, or this particular tablet.”
‘Two to four weeks to live’
“Third option was to go home and spend time with friends and family.
“And they delivered the news in terms of timescales, and that wasn’t very long – two to four weeks – so I made that decision to go home.”
Saying Goodbye
“I wrote birthday cards until all three kids were 21. It took me ages to do that because I just kept writing a line, a sentence a card and then just breaking down.
“I had to ring people and say, you are coming to these drinks, which is wicked. Just to let you know, they are a like of celebration of life drinks.
“I haven’t been to tell everyone, but my news isn’t great, I don’t have long to live.”
A New Hope
“…I decided that I wanted to go back and see the consultant…he was surprised to see me, but happy to see me.
“He offered to put me on an injection-based chemo for a few months…”
Remission
“All the chemotherapy in the world wouldn’t have got me into remission.
“Without Antony Nolan and without a stem cell transplant, I wouldn’t be here, it’s as simple as that.”
Running a half marathon
On 5th October, Mark is running in the Cardiff Half Marathon, with a team raising funds for Cure Leukaemia and Anthony Nolan, which found the donor for his stem cell transplant.
Mark said: “The thing that strikes me most is how lucky I am!
“Firstly, to have been able to have had a stem cell transplant from a donor who was registered on the Anthony Nolan stem cell register.
“Secondly, my donor had markers that were a 100 per cent match in every required area.
“Thirdly, I’ve been given a second chance at life and the impact this had had on me.’
To donate to support Mark, visit his Just Giving Page
Mark said: “Cure Leukaemia is a charity and organisation that is very close to my heart – for obvious reasons.
“Every 27 seconds someone in the world is diagnosed with blood cancer.