I was due to have a procedure to remove a gallstone and I had my pre procedure tests . Two days later I had a call from my GP surgery asking me to come in straight away to see a doctor.

As this was 5 o’clock on a Friday evening I felt very worried. My doctor told me that my blood tests were showing that I almost certainly had Leukaemia. I was quite shocked by this and was convinced I would have to have chemotherapy and I might die.

Two weeks later, I saw a haematologist who told me I almost certainly had CML – chronic myeloid leukaemia and a bone marrow test confirmed it. My haematologist told me that I needed to take Chemotherapy tablets each day. It took us quite a few months to find the correct one for me. These have worked so well that five years on I’m still going strong.

After a few months of treatment I Googled to search for a Cancer Support Group locally. Luckily I found the Leighton Linslade Cancer Support Group. We meet up each Friday morning. Most of the time we don’t talk about cancer, we chat and have fun. However, when I’ve wanted to discuss something, there is always someone willing to listen and help. This is amazing as I don’t need to worry my family and I have a lovely group of friends who are always there for me.