Hilary Osborne’s piece (When it comes to cancer drug side-effects, it’s about what you’ll tolerate to stay alive, 17 March) rang many bells with me. Since autumn 2021, I have been treated for a second time for acute myeloid leukaemia, having experienced an unusual return of the disease after more than 20 years without symptoms.
Although my chemotherapy was a milder regime than before, adjusted to my now being in my late 70s, I had more severe side-effects, particularly in the early stages of treatment. I had chronic gout and swelling in my lower legs so I had to use a walking frame, and I developed deep vein thrombosis. These are both known hazards of chemotherapy. The tiredness I recognised from all those years ago – it is in a league of its own and stops any activity immediately.
