A Newcastle mother has told how dismissing her symptoms as common respiratory issues led to a terminal cancer diagnosis that left her wheelchair-bound.
Elaine Hold was just 49 years old when medical professionals delivered the shock diagnosis in 2016.
The Briton was unknowingly living with lymphoblastic leukaemia when she first sought medical help for symptoms she'd attributed to other health issues.
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Elaine dismissed the unusual bruising on her body
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Her journey with the blood and bone marrow cancer began after she dismissed unusual bruising on her body, assuming her fatigue and breathing difficulties stemmed from longstanding bronchitis.
"I had a bad lung and assumed I had a severe chest infection which wouldn’t go away," she told Leukaemia Care. "I had had lots of various infections that year, and just thought it was another one.
The case highlights how easily serious symptoms can be overlooked when masked by existing conditions. But initial medical consultations had equally failed to raise alarm bells, as blood work appeared to support her assumption that respiratory issues were responsible for her declining health.
The turning point came when her partner noticed extensive bruising across her body and insisted she return for further medical evaluation.
"My husband had noticed a lot of bruising on my arms and legs and insisted I tell the GP," Elaine explained. "My doctor insisted I had blood taken, but that took a lot of persuading as I hate needles."
The results arrived swiftly and dramatically altered her life's trajectory.
"He took my blood on Monday, and the Freeman Hospital called me on Tuesday to come into the hospital with an overnight bag and another adult," Elaine noted. "I was diagnosed with ALL, and my treatment started that very day."
Her medical journey has involved multiple treatment approaches over nearly a decade of fighting the disease.
Between 2016 and 2019, Elaine underwent intensive chemotherapy, followed by a bone marrow transplant in 2020.
"Since 2016, I have relapsed three further times and have lived with cancer for eight years now. I have had numerous different treatments," she shared.
A novel T-cell therapy was attempted in 2023, but by 2024, her medical team faced increasingly limited treatment possibilities.
"The third, a new T-cell treatment in 2023 and now in 2024, my treatment is being considered as my options are now somewhat limited," Elaine revealed.
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Elaine underwent intensive chemotherapy between 2016 and 2019
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The most recent relapse brought devastating news during the festive season, with doctors declaring her condition terminal. Cancerous cell clusters surrounding her spine and ribs resulted in six fractures, confining her to a wheelchair.
But despite the overwhelming challenges, Elaine maintains an extraordinary perspective on her circumstances.
"Being here today is something of a miracle," she stated. "I'm not sure what the future holds for me or how much of a future I have, but what I do know is that I will spend it in happiness.
"I do not want to waste one moment of this precious time I have been given."