Amber Cunningham-Rogan, a 21-year-old marketing student from St Andrews, Scotland, initially dismissed her bleeding gums as a minor consequence of brushing too hard. It was an early warning sign of something far more serious: chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML), a rare blood cancer typically seen in people over 60.
In 2020, Amber noticed her gums bleeding and experienced strange tingling sensations in her hands and legs. Repeated visits to her GP, blood tests, and scans offered no clear answers, leaving her frustrated and anxious. “I hadn’t experienced anything that screamed ‘cancer,’” she recalled. “Spinal scans and MRIs came back normal. I knew something wasn’t right.”
Her breakthrough came after a routine referral to hospital for low iron revealed abnormal white blood cell counts. A subsequent bone marrow biopsy confirmed CML, a slow-growing cancer that affects white blood cells. Unlike more aggressive forms of leukaemia, CML is often managed over a lifetime rather than cured outright.
Amber began daily oral targeted therapy immediately, enduring significant side effects, including hair loss, bone pain, migraines, and skin rashes. At one point, she was rushed to A&E with heart palpitations. Despite the challenges, she moved back home to St Andrews and continued her degree while undergoing treatment.
After six months, she achieved a deep molecular response, meaning the cancer was undetectable at a certain level, though ongoing treatment remains necessary to keep the disease in check. Amber, now 26, is speaking out to raise awareness about the often subtle warning signs of blood cancers.
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CML is diagnosed in roughly 840 people each year in the U.K., compared with about 9,000 in the U.S., according to Cancer Research UK. While survival rates are generally good—about three-quarters of patients live five years or more after diagnosis—blood cancers can be notoriously difficult to detect. Symptoms like persistent fatigue, night sweats, lingering colds, or swollen glands are easily mistaken for minor ailments.
Amber urges others not to ignore persistent or unusual symptoms. “Everyone was pretty sure, because of my age and health, it wouldn’t be anything cancer-related,” she said. “But listening to your body and pursuing medical advice can save your life. Even the smallest signs shouldn’t be dismissed.”
Her story is a reminder that early detection, even in unexpected ways, can dramatically influence outcomes—turning what begins as a minor concern into timely intervention and hope.