Health Care

Health care assistant, 22, who went to her GP with strange bruises died a WEEK later from rare cancer, leaving her two-year-old daughter without a mother

A mother-of-one who visited her GP with strange bruises died a week later after a rare cancer diagnosis.

Sarah Armstrong, 22, died on February 1 after doctors told her she was living with acute myeloid leukemia.

Ms Armstrong, a health care assistant at Aintree Hospital in Liverpool, suffered a stroke after visiting her doctor with ‘flu-like symptoms’ and unexplained bruises on her body.

Sarah Armstrong, 22, died on February 1 after doctors told her she was living with acute myeloid leukemia

Sarah Armstrong, 22, died on February 1 after doctors told her she was living with acute myeloid leukemia

Ms Armstrong, a health care assistant at Aintree Hospital in Liverpool, suffered a stroke after visiting her doctor with 'flu-like symptoms' and unexplained bruises on her body

Ms Armstrong, a health care assistant at Aintree Hospital in Liverpool, suffered a stroke after visiting her doctor with ‘flu-like symptoms’ and unexplained bruises on her body

Her friend from childhood Danielle Johnson, also 22, said Ms Armstrong, who has a two-year-old daughter, thought she might have caught the flu while working at hospital, the Liverpool Echo reported.

Ms Johnson said: ‘Sarah was coming out in all these bruises and she had been telling me she couldn’t explain where they were coming from.

‘I said you need to get an appointment and go to the doctors.

‘She went to the doctor and they said she would need to get a blood test. On the same day they called her to say ‘you need to go to A&E, you’re going to have to go now’.’

Her friend Danielle Johnson said: 'Sarah was coming out in all these bruises and she had been telling me she couldn't explain where they were coming from'

Her friend Danielle Johnson said: ‘Sarah was coming out in all these bruises and she had been telling me she couldn’t explain where they were coming from’

A GoFundMe page has now been set up to help pay for Ms Armstrong's funeral following her unexpected death

A GoFundMe page has now been set up to help pay for Ms Armstrong’s funeral following her unexpected death

WHAT IS ACUTE MYELOID LEUKAEMIA?

Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is a type of blood cancer that starts in young white blood cells in the bone marrow.

AML affects around one in 200 men and one in 255 women in the UK at some point in their lives.

Approximately 19,500 new cases occur every year in the US.

It is most often diagnosed in older people.

Symptoms can include:

  • Fatigue
  • Fever
  • Frequent infections
  • Bruising or bleeding easily, including nosebleeds or heavy periods
  • Weight loss
  • Bone and joint pain
  • Breathlessness
  • Swollen abdomen
  • Pale skin

AML’s exact cause is unclear, however, risks include:

  • Smoking
  • Being overweight
  • Radiation exposure
  • Previous chemotherapy
  • Certain blood disorders, such as myelodysplastic syndrome
  • Some immune conditions, like rheumatoid arthritis

AML is usually treated via chemotherapy. A bone marrow or stem cell transplant may be required.

Source: Cancer Research UK 

Ms Armstrong, from Fazakerley, north Liverpool, was given the heartbreaking diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia – a cancer of the myeloid line of blood cells.

She was diagnosed on January 24 and started chemotherapy on January 29, but tragically died on February 1.

Ms Johnson said Ms Armstrong was ‘very positive’ despite receiving the diagnosis, and was still ‘full of life’.

The two of them had been relaxing and laughing together the night before Ms Armstrong’s death.

Ms Johnson revealed that on February 1 she received a message from Ms Armstrong’s partner Joel who revealed how the health care assistant had suffered a stroke and died.

A GoFundMe page has now been set up to help pay for Ms Armstrong’s funeral following her unexpected death.

The page reads: ‘Sarah was a beautiful 22-year-old girl who was dedicated to looking after others working within the NHS.

‘Not only was she loved by her patients and work colleges but by everyone she met.

‘Sarah has a loving boyfriend Joel and a beautiful two-year-old daughter who will have her own guardian angel watching over her.’

It adds: ‘We would really appreciate if people could donate anything you can afford, the funds will be going towards Sarah’s funeral costs, her baby girl and loving boyfriend Joel.

‘Sarah wanted the images and story to be shared to raise awareness and hopefully help others catch this sooner.’

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