A 19 year-old biology student at Queen Mary University, who is fighting leukaemia for the second time, has appealed for more Asian people to join the bone marrow register.
When Yasir Burney was first diagnosed with leukaemia, he was 18 years old and in his final year of Sixth Form, studying for A-Levels in Maths, Biology and Economics with Business. The only sign that his life was about to change dramatically was his increasing fatigue.
Yasir, now 19 and living with his family in North Wembley, said: “I normally spent my time studying, seeing family and friends, watching movies, playing video games and badminton. But in April last year, I started feeling more tired than usual, to the point where my legs were left fatigued going up and down the stairs. But I never thought it was anything serious.”
He developed bruises on his body and was due for a blood test but on the morning of the test Yasir was woken up by his father, only to find his mouth to be covered in dry blood. “The doctors carried out extensive blood tests, finally coming to the conclusion that I had leukaemia.”
'I couldn't believe it was happening'
Yasir, who is from a big extended family, says it was particularly difficult for them to hear the news that he had acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APML) and it took time to come to terms with the reality of the situation. They were in shock and completely devastated. His father and sister struggled to listen to the doctor whilst his mother, Farida, found it too much to hear: "I could not believe this was happening to my own son," said Farida Burney, who works at Preston Park Primary School.
Yasir was put through four cycles of chemotherapy, and to his family’s relief, achieved remission relatively soon, but the journey was far from straight forward.
Fighting to recovery
Yasir suffered severe nausea whilst undergoing chemotherapy and suffered incredibly painful migraines, preventing him from sleeping in the early hours of the night. He was forced to leave his studies during this period, only weeks before his final exams, and his sister Saba had to postpone her final University examinations so she could stay with him. Only through constant, unwavering support from his family and friends, alongside the staff at Hammersmith Hospital was he able to fight his way through the pain to recovery.
Additional support from members of staff at QE Boys School allowed him to receive grades under extenuating circumstances based on what he had done previously. He underwent his last treatment at the beginning of September 2013, and started his biology degree at Queen Mary University a couple of weeks later. The future looked bright.
“University was a big change after having spent so much time in hospital and at home. I found it tiring travelling to university and getting to lectures. I’d also lost my hair through chemotherapy, which was difficult at a time when you’re meeting so many new people. I became very self-aware and felt very uneasy about my appearance making me less open to starting conversations with others. But I began to really enjoy myself as I grew more familiar with the university and eventually made friends.”
Diffcult news
But Yasir and his family were about to receive some very difficult news, which would once again change their lives.
“I remember getting up from the sofa when I experienced some double vision but didn’t think much of it, it didn’t even last a minute. Then the next day however, the same thing happened again, only this time the double vision lasted for hours. The following day, it was constant."
“It turned out that I had an inflamed nerve, an indicator of increased pressure in my head. There was no thought in our minds that leukaemia was involved. The days that followed were a whirlwind of tests after being admitted into hospital, before we were given the news that I had relapsed. Upon hearing this I felt as though I was caught off guard, not expecting to have to go through treatment all over again, just two months after being given the all clear. However, what was even more disheartening was I knew the strain it would have on my family and of the trying times ahead. As a patient you feel the full extent of the leukaemia affecting your physical ability, but as a family member, you feel helpless, wishing there was something you could do to change things. This notion was particularly tough to deal with for a second time."
We're searching for donors
In November 2013, Yasir and his family were told that, because the cancer had come back, he would eventually need a bone marrow transplant.
He is now in Hammersmith Hospital receiving chemotherapy while we search our register for a matching donor. Unfortunately there is a lack of Asian donors on the register, and so far he has been unsuccessful in finding a match.
The family are now planning to link up with our Marrow student groups to arrange recruitment events, and will also use their links with the Asian community to increase awareness of the need to sign up on the bone marrow register.
How you can help
Can you help? If you’re 16–30, join the register at www.anthonynolan.org.