A dental nurse who was diagnosed with leukaemia is supporting leading charities Leukaemia Care and Leukaemia UK to help raise awareness of the blood cancer’s warning signs and stop it devastating people’s lives.

Edita Jucaite, from Banbury, had a lip filler injection in April 2023, which immediately made her lip swell up and left severe bruising. Having had similar procedures before, she and the doctor who administered it (who was also a colleague) said she should contact her GP. Edita had also been losing weight, and a quick internet search had suggested that she may have leukaemia.

Just a few hours after the GP appointment where Edita had a blood test, the surgery called her and said she needed to go straight to the hospital as they suspected she did have leukaemia. Further tests confirmed that Edita had chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). She began having oral chemotherapy until her blood count was stable, and she is now in remission. However, she will be on medication for life to help prevent the cancer from returning.

Edita said, “Not many people can say that lip fillers saved their life, but I can! If the bruising hadn’t happened and I hadn’t been encouraged to see the GP because of it, then I may well have put it off again and again which could have then meant the leukaemia may have progressed and been much harder to treat.

“I had no idea about the signs and symptoms of leukaemia. I was happy to be losing a bit of weight as I was about to go on holiday, and I drank a lot of energy drinks, which may have disguised my tiredness. There definitely needs to be a more general awareness of leukaemia and what to look out for so more people can be diagnosed in time for treatment to be effective, like I was.”

Leukaemia UK and Leukaemia Care have urged the public and healthcare professionals to familiarise themselves with the symptoms of leukaemia and to contact their GP and request a blood test if they have concerns.

Colin Dyer, CEO of Leukaemia Care, said, “The findings call for immediate action. Delayed diagnoses not only devastate lives but also strain the NHS with increased treatment costs. We hear daily via our support services about the impact this has on patients and their families.

“Knowing the signs and symptoms of leukaemia and not being afraid to ask for a blood test from your GP is really important and something which we will continue to campaign for. Early diagnosis saves lives.”

Blood cancer awareness month

Edita is supporting Leukaemia Care and Leukaemia UK during blood cancer awareness month, which takes place every September.

The two charities have released new findings from a YouGov poll of 2,000 UK adults, which found that less than a sixth (14 per cent) of the UK adult population can identify all the four main symptoms of this deadly blood cancer. These are unusual bruising, unusual bleeding, fatigue, and repeated infections.

The organisations have said this is contributing to more than a third of those diagnosed finding out the life-changing news at A&E.Throughout the UK, there are around 10,000 people diagnosed with leukaemia every year, and almost 5,000 deaths. Annually, 37 per cent of those diagnosed with leukaemia receive this news in A&E, more than any other cancer type1.

In addition, people diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) are disproportionately affected as over half of them are diagnosed in emergency settings.

This type of leukaemia is particularly aggressive and develops quickly, so early diagnosis and treatment are essential.

Leukaemia Care and Leukaemia UK have joined forces for their annual ‘Spot Leukaemia’ campaign which aims to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of this type of blood cancer.

Fiona Hazell, CEO of Leukaemia UK, said, “We’re so grateful to Edita for supporting our ‘Spot Leukaemia’ campaign. Her harrowing experiences, alongside the data we have, highlight the real and urgent need to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of leukaemia. That’s why our ‘Spot Leukaemia’ campaign is urging the public and medical communities to both recognise the warning signs and the importance of requesting a blood test.”

The charities have urged anyone experiencing any or a combination of the four most common symptoms to request a full blood count from their GP, a simple yet vital test that can lead to early diagnosis and significantly improve survival rates. According to guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), a blood test for leukaemia should be carried out within 48 hours.

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