Fear and pain

I've just been diagnosed with Acute myeloid Leukaemia this week. I had Non Hodgkins Lymphoma for 7 years then a stem cell transplant. I have been in remission for nearly 4 years so this was a total shock. During my years of treatments before I was very sick and in intensive care several times, I was in hospital for months after transplant ( from my sister) as very ill, but not once did I have this terrible fear. I am a very up and positive person and pretty strong personality, but this has floored me. I am getting swellings lumps and bruises in my legs that just swell up within the hour, my legs are weak and getting terrible leg cramps, but mostly I am terribly scared. This feeling is alien to me and is difficult to shake off, maybe if the pains in legs were not so bad. What to do?? My family are very close and I always have someone to talk to , but am frightened to scare them with my weakness and my prognosis

  • Hello Artygirl, 

    Welcome to Cancer Chat. I'm sorry to read that you've been diagnosed with AML, I can hear in your post what an utter shock that has all been to you and I'm sure it'll take some time to get your head round the news you've had this week. Do you have another appointment planned or have the medical team told you what will happen next? 

    It's lovely that you have a family who are close and supportive to you and of course, understandable that you want to protect them as much as you are able to from things. If you really do feel that you're not able to share with them then we do have a team of nurses here at Cancer Research that you could call to talk to. They are normally available Mon-Fri 9am-5pm on 0808 800 4040 (although they won't be back now until after the bank holiday). 

    I know that some of our other forum members will drop by to say hello and offer some words of support soon but please do feel free to come and post here anytime. 

    Sending you best wishes, 

    Jenn
    Cancer Chat moderator