Gran told extreme tiredness was a sign of age - 18 months later she was given a devastating diagnosis

A grandmother who thought her extreme tiredness was a sign of age was given a devastating diagnosis 18 months later. Julia Jones was initially told her weariness was linked to her advancing years and that a lump under her arm was raised glands, LancsLive reports.

But 18 months later she discovered she had leukaemia. Julia, 74, of Preston, said: "I had found the lump 18 months before my diagnosis and had seen the GP three times. It wasn’t until a routine mammogram that something was picked up. A blood test was not done before this to double check the cause of the symptoms.

"It was thought I might have breast cancer, so a biopsy was taken. However, I was instead told I had chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL).

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"I was referred to a Haematologist in Blackpool and was put on watch and wait for a short time. The following year I had a chest infection and was admitted to hospital. I recovered well but shortly afterwards I found that I had trouble swallowing.

"I was referred to an ENT consultant and after examination I was found to have lymphoma in my tongue, throat and trachea. It was then decided that I needed some treatment.”

More than 10,000 cases of leukaemia are diagnosed every year with the disease claiming 5,000 lives annually. Survival stands at just over 50 per cent - making it one of the most deadly forms of cancer.

Julie continued: "I was fortunate enough to be offered the Flair trial, which consisted of six-monthly doses of rituximab and three tablets of ibrutinib daily for six years. I have just completed the trial and the indications are excellent: no CLL in my bone marrow and only some residual in my blood.