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Worsley’s Rachel Handley to run 10k for blood cancer research after mum’s devasting diagnosis

By Carl Davison

Rachel Handley
Rachel Handley

When Jane Handley contracted pneumonia in November 2022 in her mid-50s doctors were anxious to find out what might have sparked off the illness.

Test results, delivered shortly after Christmas that year, revealed the devastating news she had the blood cancer, Myeloma and the initial prognosis from her doctor was alarming.

Link: https://www.justgiving.com/page/rachel-handley-1713442911979

Her daughter Rachel Handley said:

“We were told there’s no treatment; there’s no cure. My mum thought she had better start planning her funeral. This was between Christmas and New Year and she thought: ‘this is the last one I am going to see’.”

But a consultant at Salford Royal Hospital told Jane she would be able to access treatment and she underwent gruelling courses of chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant.

Jane, now 56, from Worsley, Manchester, also discovered she had a tumour behind her eye at the same time as the Myeloma diagnosis but after treatment for both conditions she is back to her normal self on regular medication and monthly check-ups.

Rachel, also from Worsley, is running the Tatton Park 10k in aid of Leukaemia & Myeloma Research UK after discovering the work of our charity while researching her mother’s illness.  She has launched a Just Giving page and is hoping to raise as much money as possible from the event, on July 27.

Rachel said:

“I’m not a runner – I did do a triathlon – but that was about 15 years ago.  My training for the 10k is going okay, although I haven’t run that far before.”

She said she had been practising on different surfaces, including gravel, grass and tarmac, to prepare for the conditions at Tatton Park.

Rachel said she was impressed by what she knew of our charity’s work and our dedication to supporting research into blood cancers to help develop new treatments, particularly through the use of stem cells.

She, said:

“When my mum was diagnosed we were told not to Google the condition – but of course we did

“I came across the charity during my research and thought it looked like it was well worth supporting.

“If you can donate anything at all, please do, so we can help this charity continue to make miracles happen!”

Myeloma, also known as multiple myeloma, is a type of blood cancer that originates in the plasma cells, a type of white blood cell found in the bone marrow. Plasma cells are responsible for producing antibodies to help fight infections. In multiple myeloma, cancerous plasma cells multiply uncontrollably and accumulate in the bone marrow, leading to bone damage and interfering with the production of normal blood cells.

Symptoms of multiple myeloma can include bone pain, frequent infections, fatigue, anemia, and high levels of calcium in the blood (hypercalcemia). Diagnosis typically involves blood tests, urine tests, bone marrow biopsy, and imaging studies.

Treatment for multiple myeloma often includes a combination of therapies such as chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, corticosteroids, and stem cell transplantation. While multiple myeloma remains an incurable disease, advances in treatment have significantly improved survival rates and quality of life for many patients. Regular monitoring and supportive care are essential components of managing the disease.

Rachel’s Just Giving page can be found at https://www.justgiving.com/page/rachel-handley-1713442911979

Good luck, Rachel!

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Worsley’s Rachel Handley to run 10k for blood cancer research after mum’s devasting diagnosis | Salford Media