Bloodwise

Blood cancer is the fifth most common type of cancer and the third biggest cancer killer in the UK, claiming more lives each year than breast cancer or prostate cancer. Someone is diagnosed with a blood cancer every 14 minutes – yet there is still very little public awareness or understanding of these diseases

Be blood wise

Bloodwise is the UK’s specialist blood cancer charity, funding world class research and offering expert information and support to anyone affected by leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma and other types of blood cancer. Since 1960, the charity’s research has been targeted at understanding more about blood cancer, improving diagnosis and treatment, and running groundbreaking clinical trials to test new life-saving drugs. Bloodwise works to improve the care and treatment patients receive, and to raise awareness of the issues that they face. Blood cancers can affect anyone, from infants to the elderly.

Saving lives

Peterborough resident Emma Paine, 29, was diagnosed with very severe Aplastic Anaemia in 2005 when she was 17 years old, after becoming concerned about extreme bruising on her body. She led a normal life with the condition, achieving a first in mathematics at university and securing a job in her home town of Peterborough until it progressed into myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) in 2011. MDS is a type of blood cancer in which the production of blood cells by the bone marrow is faulty, and is sometimes referred to as bone marrow failure. Emma underwent a stem cell transplant but relapsed in February 2013. She says: ‘I got a series of horrible infections which left me in hospital for six weeks. Another six months of chemotherapy again put me into remission and I had never felt so well. I was working full time, got a promotion at work, was going to dance classes and running 10K races and half marathons.’

Improving lives

Last year Emma found out that the MDS had returned and she underwent a second stem cell transplant in January 2016, after having intensive chemotherapy. The procedure was a success but she still needs regular visits to hospital for monitoring and has had to be re-admitted on multiple occasions due to infections and other side effects caused by the transplant. Emma keeps a regular blog about her ongoing treatment to help other patients going through a similar experience. She says: ‘Raising awareness of blood cancer is important. Not only to help early diagnosis but also to help fund treatments. My disease is very rare and also incredibly rare in my age group. Consequently there aren’t many treatment options for people in my situation. It would be great to see this change in the future.’

Raising awareness

Emma Jones, Regional Manager at Bloodwise, says: ‘Bloodwise exists to support patients like Emma and to also fund research to find better treatments and cures for all blood cancers. It is fantastic that Perkins Engines have supported us this year and have raised so much money to enable us to continue to do just this.’ Emma’s father – Jon Paine, who is now retired – used to work in the programme management team at Perkins. ‘We know from previous fundraising events in Peterborough, as well as our partnership last year with Queensgate Shopping Centre, that there are many supporters in the area who go to great lengths for the charity. Colleagues at Perkins Engines are really leading the way in the local community and we are grateful for their dedication to improving patients’ lives. ‘We are always looking to hear from people who are keen to support our work so if you are interested in fundraising or volunteering in the area, then please do get in touch.’

https://bloodwise.org.uk
T: 020 7504 2200

This feature has been supported by Peterborough-based Perkins Engines Company Limited, one of the world’s leading suppliers of off-highway diesel and gas engines. 

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