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Taking this ONE test a year can prevent the spread of cancer: One survivor tells all
Among the diseases known to man, cancer is one of the deadliest. In 2020, an estimated 18.1 million cancer cases were recorded around the world. The good news is, if caught early, cancer can generally be cured and is less likely to be fatal. Preventing the spread of the disease through early detection also increases the chances of beating it.
This is what happened to journalist Elle Halliwell back in 2016. She visited her family doctor, hoping to get a medical certificate but instead was ordered by her doctor to get another test. And lucky she did!
Elle, who lives in Sydney with her husband Nick, describes that she was only supposed to stop over at the GP because she was suffering from a stomach bug for a few days. She had been discussing the idea of starting a family with her husband and wanted to check if her vitals were normal before they started trying.
The 37-year-old also said that she mainly wanted to check on her folate levels. Once she got the results back, the doctor said she had high platelets. ‘Which isn’t uncommon if you’ve had gastro,’ Elle said in a previous interview.
Elle Halliwell with her husband, Nick Biasotto. Credit: Daily Mail
But her doctor ordered her to take another test just to be sure. Once the results came back, it was revealed that her platelets were higher than the last. Worried about her condition, the doctor asked Elle to consult with a specialist.
After meeting with the specialist, Elle was asked to come to the doctor’s office with a loved one to discuss the results. She said, ‘They don’t ask you to bring in a loved one unless you’re dying.’ She also mentioned that was the moment she heard of CML for the first time.
CML stands for chronic myeloid leukaemia, a type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow. ‘It’s most commonly diagnosed in men over the age of 60, not women my age.’ Elle said.
On top of that, Elle discovered that she was pregnant two days later. ‘In 48 hours, I had found out the best and worst news you can hear in a lifetime.’ She also said that it’s very common for CML patients not to show symptoms in the early stages. But the disease can be picked up in a routine blood test.
Elle was advised to terminate the pregnancy immediately for her best chance at survival. But she persevered and decided to continue the pregnancy. The doctor said she had to start an oral chemotherapy drug called a TKI to improve her chances, but the catch is that the effects could not be determined on an unborn child.
Facing a difficult decision, Elle decided to wait until her son, Tor Felix, was born before starting her treatment.
Elle with her baby bump. Credit: Daily Mail
Elle underwent a labour induction a month before reaching full-term because the cancer in her blood had increased. After her son was born, Elle pushed back her treatment another five weeks so she could breastfeed her newborn child.
‘Those five weeks gave me time to settle into motherhood.’ She explained. ‘It gave me peace of mind, and thankfully, my levels had dropped again so the doctors agreed.’ She continued. Since then, Elle had been in a constant battle to stay healthy for herself and her family.
As of writing, Elle is still in remission, with no detectable cancer cells in her body.
Dear members, we encourage you to stay healthy and take a proactive approach to getting your yearly check-ups. Taking a blood test once a year can help detect and prevent the spread of CML. Stay safe, and take care!
watch over you all!
