A metallic taste in my mouth turned out to be incurable cancer
A Metallic Taste in My Mouth Turned Out to Be Incurable Cancer
A metallic taste in my mouth - June Kelly, a 48-year-old business owner from Micklefield, Leeds, was at her peak physical condition when an unusual symptom emerged in March 2021. She had spent years training for endurance events, including triathlons and half marathons, and even completed the Great North Swim twice. But one day, her body began to betray her in an unexpected way.
From Fitness to Frustration
June noticed a shift in her health, starting with a persistent metallic taste in her mouth that lingered despite her efforts to brush it away. “I was struggling to catch my breath when running uphill, and I couldn’t seem to warm up properly,” she recalls. “It felt like my energy levels were dropping, and this strange sensation was just one more odd thing I couldn’t explain.”
“I thought it was my asthma or maybe an underactive thyroid, but the doctor did blood tests. The next day he told me to get to hospital urgently – my kidneys were failing. It was a huge shock.”
Despite her active lifestyle, the symptoms quickly escalated. During an asthma review, she mentioned her shortness of breath while walking up hills, but her inhaler provided little relief. A few days later, her general practitioner scheduled blood tests, which revealed alarming results. The nurse who conducted the initial assessment arranged a phone consultation, setting the stage for a diagnosis that would change June’s life forever.
A Shock Diagnosis
Within days, June was diagnosed with myeloma, a type of blood cancer that targets the bone marrow and affects the production of blood cells. The condition, which impacts over 33,000 individuals in the UK, is treatable but not curable, often leading to cycles of remission followed by recurrence.
“I had a neck line fitted the following day and two hours of dialysis. It felt like my life was coming crashing down.”
Her kidneys, which had been functioning at just 5% capacity, required immediate intervention. June underwent dialysis and was told she would need a transplant, but her cancer made that option unviable. “I didn’t want to get involved with support groups at the beginning of my diagnosis, but as things have gone on it helps to connect with people going through the same thing,” she says.
Resilience and Recovery
After the initial shock, June focused on managing her condition. She began chemotherapy shortly after her diagnosis, receiving weekly injections for four months. The treatment, combined with dialysis, left her feeling “so much better” than she had in weeks. However, the road to recovery wasn’t without challenges.
“The first year my goal was to see my niece born, this year I wanted to see my son graduate and niece startschooland next year I want to see my daughter graduate.”
Her journey took a significant turn last September when she underwent a stem cell transplant at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham. “After 100 days, my bone marrow was checked, and I started on maintenance chemotherapy in tablet form. I take it for 21 days and then have a week off,” she explains. This step marked a crucial milestone in her treatment, offering hope amid the uncertainty.
Life Beyond the Diagnosis
Despite the severity of her condition, June remains determined to embrace life fully. She and her husband, Adrian, 57, purchased a campervan as a way to continue their adventures, even with the added challenge of dialysis. “It’s harder going on holiday because of dialysis, but we had always said we would get a motorhome when my husband retired so we have done that early,” she notes.
“I told my sister-in-law, who also has blood cancer, when I have felt really angry and she has reassured me that it’s normal and it does pass.”
June and Adrian’s travels have included trips to the Scottish Highlands and Loch Ness, where they paused for dialysis in Inverness. These excursions not only provide her with a sense of normalcy but also serve as reminders of the resilience she has cultivated. “I didn’t want to get involved with support groups at the beginning of my diagnosis, but as things have gone on it helps to connect with people going through the same thing,” she says, reflecting on how her mindset evolved.
Future Goals and a New Perspective
Cancer has reshaped June’s outlook on life. Once a nervous person who avoided risk, she now views challenges with a different lens. “I was always a very nervous person and didn’t like upse,” she begins, though the sentence cuts off. This insight highlights how her experiences have transformed her perspective, making her more focused on what truly matters.
June’s determination is also driven by her family milestones. She has set personal goals aligned with her children’s achievements, ensuring she has something positive to look forward to. “I had an asthma review and mentioned I was feeling short of breath walking up hills and my inhaler wasn’t helping. The nurse arranged a phone appointment with the GP a couple of days later. He sent me for blood tests the following Monday,” she recounts, emphasizing how her journey began with small, seemingly insignificant symptoms.
Her story is a testament to the power of perseverance. While the initial diagnosis was a blow, June has turned her focus toward the future, using her passion for travel and connection as a source of strength. “I had a few lesions in my pelvis, hips and ribs. I did have a bone strengthening infusion at first but my dialysis specialist was concerned about how much was staying in the body and how much wasn’t,” she adds, illustrating the complexity of her treatment plan.
Through her journey, June has found support in her family and community. Her husband’s decision to research myeloma extensively has been both a comfort and a challenge, as she chose to limit her exposure to overwhelming information to protect her mental well-being. This balance has allowed her to stay positive while navigating the realities of her illness.
June’s resilience is a beacon of hope for others facing similar diagnoses. While her condition remains incurable, she continues to live with purpose, proving that even in the face of adversity, life can still be vibrant and meaningful. Her story is a reminder of the importance of staying proactive, seeking support, and finding joy in the moments that matter most.