When Martin Vessey developed the flu little was thought about it. His GP believed it was a bad case of influenza and told him it would improve.

But rather than clearing up he developed a bad cough and became delirious. He also suffered severe night sweats, aching limbs and muscles and unexplained bruising.

But it took three months before he was able to persuade his doctor to give him a review which included blood tests. And a day later Martin was given the news that far from flu, which would improve, he had blood cancer.

Martin, from Chalfont Sg Giles, Buckinghamshire, said: they "were excellent" – and referred him to the local hospital to see a consultant where it was confirmed he had chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Martin told how he was the doctor’s first CLL patient, so he was open about the fact that he needed to learn, although he was supportive and honest with him.

While the hospital confirmed the diagnosis, but Martin wanted to know more so found charities and medical websites the best places to help with the unknowns. He also learned more about the disease.

CLL is chronic leukaemia, meaning that it tends to progress slowly over a number of years. According to the NHS it cannot usually be cured, but it can be managed with treatment. It's more common as you get older. It's very rare in people under 40 and while it's cause is not clear having a close family member who's had it may mean you have a slightly higher risk.

Four years on Martin, from South East England, is on a ‘Watch and Wait’ scheme where his symptoms are monitored. Watch and Wait is used for people with blood cancer that does not need treatment immediately - and some might never need it. It means he undergoes regular check-ups and blood tests to keep an eye on it.

According to Leukaemia Care more than 3,500 people are diagnosed with CLL in the UK, making it the most common type of leukaemia. The journeys of CLL patients can significantly differ from the very start in their route to diagnosis through Watch and Wait and beyond. It is estimated that there are 13,000 CLL patients on Watch and Wait in the UK.

What is Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) and signs to look for

Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) is a form of blood cancer, which affects the white blood cells known as myeloid cells. It is a slowly progressing form of leukaemia.

According to leukaemia Care approximately 750 people are diagnosed with leukaemia every year in the UK and CML makes up about 15 out of every 100 cases.

CML typically has three stages: Symptoms generally associated with the three phases of CML are:

  • Chronic phase: Generally, there are less symptoms present and they tend to be vague. In this stage, CML is often detected through a blood test for something else, or through a health check. Patients can remain in this phase for years before proceeding to the accelerated phase.
  • Accelerated phase: The symptoms described below become apparent as the number of blast cells in the blood and bone marrow start to increase. Commonest symptoms are feeling tired or unwell, night sweats, weight loss and frequent infections. The accelerated phase normally lasts between three to nine months.
  • Blast phase: This is the final phase of CML, also called the blast crisis. The blast phase is when the leukaemia has become more aggressive and patients in this phase may experience more noticeable and extreme symptoms. The disease is similar to acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) during this stage, with more than 30% of bone marrow and blood cells being blast cells. Unless it is treated, death will generally occur.

Speak to a GP if you have possible symptoms of CML. Although it's highly unlikely that leukaemia is the cause, these symptoms should be investigated. If you are diagnosed with the condition you can get help and support including from:

The most common symptoms of leukaemia are fatigue, bleeding and bruising, repeated infections, fever or night sweats, bone or joint pain and shortness of breath. If you have any of these symptoms, contact your GP and ask for a blood test. To find out more visit the Spot Leukaemia page.