Scary Hairy Cell Leukemia Diagnosis

I was diagnosed with hairy cell leukemia (HCL) on April 7, 1999.

Exposed to cleaning chemicals

I was living in Las Vegas, NV, and working at an apartment complex. I cleaned vacant apartments, and every day I used oven cleaner, window cleaner, and other cleaning products to clean shelving, etc.

I had bruises all over; however, I was used to that. My body had been susceptible to bruising for quite some time.

Concerning symptoms sent me to the doctor

What brought me to the doctor's office was nausea. I would sleep through the night okay, but wake up nauseated in the mornings. I also had terrible gas one evening and could not eat dinner.

The doctor found that my spleen was enlarged. I was the last patient of the day, yet the doctor had the nurse come in and draw blood right then.

Diagnosis required urgent action

I was notified a few days later that I had HCL. They were calling me and sending me letters telling me that I needed to make an appointment with an oncologist and get a scan test at the hospital.

I left Las Vegas after the diagnosis was told to me, and we drove back to Ohio, where I was from. I was very sick, sleeping most of the time.

Chemo to treat my HCL

I went to Cleveland Clinic Oncology Center in Independence, Ohio. I had chemotherapy every day for over 1 week.

I went into remission, but it showed again in 2004. There, again, I had chemotherapy every day for 1 week.

I have been fine since then. I have had 5 bone marrow tests.

My doctor has died & now I see another doctor once a year for bloodwork and follow up visits.

Multiple blood cancers in my family

I do have a cousin who died of acute leukemia before me. My cousin died when her son was only 8 years old, even though she had treatments and a bone marrow transplant. My mother also had blood cancer, lymphoma (they were not blood relatives).