Primary school teaching assistant Janev Hakki learned her ‘terrifying’ diagnosis sitting in a hospital stock cupboard because there weren’t any free beds
When teaching assistant Janev Hakki cut her finger she thought little of it until it refused to heal. Already feeling constantly shattered, which her GP had told her was likely down to stress, she suddenly also found herself with a massive bruise and then her left leg went numb.
Janev was working in a primary school when she started to feel extremely fatigued. She said: “I initially put it down to being tired from my job, but this felt different. Then I cut my finger and it just wouldn’t heal, I also had an enormous bruise. When my left leg went numb, I went to the GP, but they said I was just stressed. Nobody mentioned a blood test.”
Janev, now 63, became so exhausted that she couldn’t get out of bed. Eventually a friend drove her to A&E where after tests she was eventually diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), an aggressive form of blood cancer.
Every year almost 3,100 people in the UK are told they have AML, and nearly 80% of those diagnosed will not survive beyond five years. Janev said: “They told me the news sat in a stock cupboard, because there were no beds available. I was crying my eyes out and completely terrified about what was going to happen.”
After a further wait Janev was finally admitted to the Macmillan Cancer Ward, where they confirmed she also had sepsis which was treated with intravenous antibiotics. Treatment for Janev eventually started on December 3, 2023.
She said: “I had 10 consecutive chemotherapy injections in my belly, a blood-thinning injection and tablets for a trial drug called Venetoclax. It was awful, I vomited a lot, I had diarrhoea, and my legs were swollen and painful. I also developed pneumonia and needed a mask to help me breathe. The whole experience was completely emotionally and physically draining.”
After several months, Janev was finally able to return home, with regular trips to hospital for treatment. She also continued taking Venetoclax chemotherapy tablets every day for two more years up until March 2026, when she rang the bell at the Macmillan Cancer ward.
“It’s a huge relief to be in remission, but that doesn’t mean things are easy. I’m always worried about relapse and I’m still extremely tired, I’ve had to give up a lot of activities I really enjoyed like Pilates or taking long walks” she said.
“I also had to go back to work in 2025 because I couldn’t manage anymore financially. I love the children but it’s hard and exhausting. My family and friends have been brilliant, but I just want to be back to the person I was before all this happened. My hope for the future is to get back into fitness, to go on holiday and to get to that five-year survival milestone.”
September is Blood Cancer Awareness Month. Janev is sharing her story in support of Leukaemia UK, to raise awareness about the signs and symptoms of leukaemia.
Every day, 28 people in the UK are diagnosed with leukaemia. However, the symptoms are varied and not specific, meaning it can often get overlooked or misdiagnosed. The most common symptoms of leukaemia are:
- Extreme tiredness (fatigue)
- Bruising
- Unusual bleeding
- Repeated infections
Leukaemia UK is urging the public to familiarise themselves with the signs and symptoms of leukaemia, and to contact their GP and ask for a full blood count test if something doesn’t feel right.
Fiona Hazell, Chief Executive of Leukaemia UK, said: “We’re so grateful to Janev for sharing her story to help raise awareness of leukaemia. Most of the signs and symptoms are not specific, so can often get mistaken for other illnesses or be explained away.
“Early diagnosis saves lives. That is why we encourage anyone with symptoms to make sure it’s nothing serious by speaking to their GP and asking for a full blood count test.”
To find out more about the signs and symptoms of leukaemia visit: Signs of Leukaemia & Leukaemia Symptoms | Leukaemia UK
