First diagnosed with CML (chronic myeloid leukaemia) following some minor surgery. A routine blood test prior to the operation alerted the suspicions of the doctors when they saw an abnormal level of white blood cells. Further blood samples were taken to verify the initial results. At some point during the morning after the operation, whilst still under the influence of the anaesthetic and morphine, the haematologist explained the situation.

It would be an understatement to say that the news came as a surprise. It was a total blow to the mind, and spirit especially when you're recovering from an operation for something else totally unrelated. On the other hand, I was lucky to have found out at that stage. Were it not for the operation, I could have carried on oblivious to the disease, until it was spotted at a later stage when the disease had progressed further.

Although it's hard to say with any precision, the haematologist estimated from the WBC (white blood count) that the condition could have started somewhere between 6 - 9 months prior to diagnosis. I could draw solace from the knowledge that the leukaemia had been spotted relatively early on, and that this may bode well for any treatment to come.