In June 2008, 18-year-old Max England, who is originally from Derbyshire and now lives in Teddington, had just finished his A Levels and was looking forward to starting university in the autumn.

Typically fit and healthy, he could never imagine he was about to receive a life-threatening diagnosis.  

"He just started to get increasingly tired" recalled Max's mum, Ann.

"It got to the point where he was pretty much constantly asleep. By the time we took him to the doctor, he couldn't physically walk there, he was just that exhausted." 

The GP immediately sent Max to Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield where he was given a blood test. Three days later doctors delivered the devastating news to Max and his family that he had acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). 

ALL is a rare type of blood cancer, most often diagnosed in children aged 0-4 years. It is an aggressive type of leukaemia and symptoms such as fatigue, frequent infections and bruising can progress very quickly. 

Ann added: "We were so shocked and just panicked, terrified that Max was going to die. We didn't know anything about leukaemia."

Max had to immediately begin chemotherapy. Overall, his treatment spanned five years, and he faced serious complications, including a reaction to trial drugs that caused several mini strokes and temporary loss of speech. 

Happily, Max went into remission and was finally able to attend University as he had originally planned. 

Max is now 35 and living life to the full in Teddington. He works in London as an estate agent and has regained his health enough to run two London Marathons. He got married in 2023 and he and his wife Katy welcomed their first child this year.  

Max with his wife Katy and their baby (Image supplied)

"Strangely, Max's leukaemia was in some way an enriching experience," said Ann.

"It brought our family closer and taught us to appreciate each other deeply. Max's strength and the unwavering support of his friends gave us hope throughout." 

Max's incredible recovery also inspired his grandmother Doreen to make a donation in her Will to Leukaemia UK, with the wish that research will eventually lead to kinder as well as more effective treatments. 

Max's family is sharing his story this Blood Cancer Awareness Month, in support of #SpotLeukaemia, run by charities Leukaemia UK and Leukaemia Care.

The campaign aims to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of leukaemia because early diagnosis helps save lives.  

Every day, 28 people in the UK are diagnosed with leukaemia. However, the symptoms are varied and not specific, meaning it can often get overlooked or misdiagnosed.  

The most common symptoms of leukaemia are:  

• Extreme tiredness (fatigue)  
• Bruising  
• Unusual bleeding  
• Repeated infections 

Currently, less than a sixth (14%) of the UK adult population are able to identify all of the four main symptoms of this deadly blood cancer1.  

Leukemia UK and Leukemia Care are urging the public to familiarise themselves with the symptoms of leukemia, and to contact their GP and ask for a full blood count test if experiencing them.  

Fiona Hazell, Chief Executive of Leukaemia UK, said: "Many people aren't aware of the signs and symptoms of leukaemia until they or someone they know is diagnosed. That's why we are so grateful to Ann for sharing Max's story and helping to raise awareness of the cancer.  

"Early diagnosis saves lives, so we want to make sure more people are aware of the signs and symptoms and know to contact their GP to ask for a full blood count test if they're experiencing them. Together, we can stop leukaemia devastating so many lives." 

Colin Dyer, Chief Executive of Leukaemia Care, said: "Max's story is a powerful reminder that leukaemia can affect anyone, at any age, and that the signs are often subtle and easy to miss. Too many people can spend months searching for answers before receiving a diagnosis.

"That's why our #SpotLeukaemia campaign is so important — it helps people recognise the key symptoms and empowers them to seek medical advice sooner. Early diagnosis can make all the difference to treatment options and outcomes, and raising awareness is vital in saving lives." 

More information about #SpotLeukaemia can be found at www.spotleukaemia.org.uk.