‘My blood cancer was dismissed as a pulled muscle’

A former footballer has advised how he was in “full shock” after being recognized with blood most cancers – after first believing the ache was from a pulled muscle.

Mel Tottoh was recognized with myeloma after months of rib and again ache.

The daddy-of-three, from Freckleton in Lancashire, went to the GP after feeling a “searing ache” that made him really feel like he had damaged a rib when taking a swing on the golf course in 2021.

“After I was recognized, I had holey bones in my ribs, thighs, backbone and cranium,” mentioned the 68-year-old, who performed for Preston North Finish within the Nineteen Eighties.

He mentioned he had twinges in his ribs and again for a yr and a half earlier than his prognosis, however initially put them right down to taking part in lots of golf.

When the ache acquired worse in the course of 2020, he consulted his GP who advised him he had possible pulled a muscle and that the twinges would type themselves out.

“It progressed over months to being fairly debilitating,” he recalled.

“It acquired to some extent the place it began having an actual impression on my life.”

After blood checks he was recognized with myeloma in August 2021.

“Being struck down with this was an entire shock,” he mentioned.

“My dad had died of most cancers after which, within the final 12 years, two of my brothers died of most cancers. I believed it was the top.”

However the group at Blackpool Victoria Hospital “had been superb”, he mentioned.

Mr Tottoh had radiotherapy to deal with the harm to his bones.

He then had chemotherapy, adopted by a stem cell transplant and has been in remission since November 2022.

All through, the help of household and buddies has been invaluable, he mentioned.

“It takes a small military to get you thru this ordeal,” mentioned Mr Tottoh, who remains to be on upkeep remedy to maintain his most cancers at bay for so long as doable.

“A very powerful factor now’s having folks in your nook, individuals who care, individuals who raise you up while you’re down.

“My household and closest buddies have completed that.”

Practically 5 years on from his prognosis, Mr Tottoh is now decided to make reminiscences along with his household and his grandson Theo, 9.

“My mindset is basically constructive,” he mentioned.

“I’ll see my grandson go to college and get married – if that is what he desires to do. I’ll see my children fulfil their desires.

“Proper now, I am in a tremendous place and I am on the trail to residing with myeloma for a really very long time.”

He mentioned if anybody feels not sure about any signs they might have, they need to go to the physician.

“No person is aware of your physique higher than you, so personal it,” he mentioned.

• Myeloma is an incurable blood most cancers that happens within the bone marrow
• Regardless of being the third commonest sort of blood most cancers, myeloma is troublesome to detect as signs are sometimes linked to basic ageing or minor circumstances
• Whereas it’s incurable, myeloma is treatable within the majority of circumstances
• Remedy can result in durations of remission however the most cancers will inevitably come again

Supply Myeloma UK