Doctor Diagnosed Leukaemia A&E: Shock After Glandular Fever Test

A young doctor diagnosed with leukaemia in A&E faced a life-altering moment just one hour after a blood test for suspected glandular fever. On May 16, 2024, Alice Bolton, a 28-year-old working in an Australian hospital, noticed swollen lymph nodes and bruising, symptoms she thought pointed to a common viral infection. Instead, a routine full blood count revealed acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), a rare and aggressive blood cancer with a five-year survival rate of 22%, per Leukaemia UK. From treating patients to becoming one, Alice’s story of resilience, relapse, and hope captivates. How did this unfold, and what can we learn? Let’s explore her journey, the diagnosis, and its broader impact.

Table of Contents

• The Moment a Doctor Was Diagnosed with Leukaemia in A&E
• From Glandular Fever to AML: The Misleading Symptoms
• The Rapid Diagnosis Process
• Alice’s Treatment and Relapse
• Finding Hope Amid Hardship
• Conclusion

The Moment a Doctor Was Diagnosed with Leukaemia in A&E

Alice Bolton, splitting her time between Surrey, UK, and London, was running 20km to train for a half-marathon when she noticed troubling signs in early 2024. Swollen lymph nodes in her neck and unexplained bruises on her legs seemed like glandular fever, a viral illness common in young adults, caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), per Medical News Today. As an A&E doctor, she ordered a blood test during her shift, expecting a quick confirmation. Instead, within an hour, a consultant delivered a bombshell: her results suggested leukaemia, per The Independent.

“I thought they’d tell me to go home to avoid spreading a virus,” Alice told PA Real Life. Instead, she was admitted as a patient in the same hospital, her world upended. The speed of the diagnosis—driven by her access to immediate testing—highlights how swiftly AML can strike. Her story, shared widely on X, resonated, with users like @HealthNewsUK praising her courage.

From Glandular Fever to AML: The Misleading Symptoms

The doctor diagnosed with leukaemia in A&E mistook AML’s signs for glandular fever due to their overlap. Glandular fever often brings swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, and fever, per NHS. AML, however, can mimic these with bruising, weakness, and infections from low blood cell counts, per Mayo Clinic. Alice’s bruises and nodes seemed benign, but her blood test revealed abnormal white blood cells—leukaemic blasts—signaling cancer, not a virus, per Cancer Research UK.

This confusion isn’t rare. Lymphomas and leukaemias can resemble viral infections, delaying diagnosis, per Children with Cancer UK. For Alice, working in A&E gave her an edge—most patients wait days for results. Her case underscores why persistent symptoms like bruising or fatigue warrant urgent checks, especially in young, healthy people. “You never expect it from someone so fit,” her sister Emma said, per The Independent.

The Rapid Diagnosis Process

The doctor diagnosed with leukaemia in A&E benefited from a streamlined process. Her full blood count (FBC), done on-site, showed high abnormal white cells and low red cells and platelets—red flags for AML, per Leukaemia Foundation. Within hours, a haematologist confirmed suspicions with a bone marrow biopsy, standard for AML diagnosis, per NHS. The biopsy, taking liquid from her hip bone under local anaesthesia, revealed excessive blasts, confirming AML on May 16, 2024, per PA Real Life.

Speed was critical. AML progresses fast, often requiring immediate chemotherapy, per WebMD. Alice’s hospital setting bypassed delays, unlike typical patients facing weeks of referrals. Genetic tests on her marrow later classified her AML subtype, guiding treatment, per American Cancer Society. Her story shows how access and awareness can accelerate life-saving care.

Alice’s Treatment and Relapse

Alice began intensive chemotherapy soon after diagnosis, enduring hair loss, nausea, and fatigue, per The Independent. By October 2024, she reached remission, a milestone celebrated with plans to run the 2025 TCS London Marathon with sisters Emma and Kate. But a routine bone marrow test in March 2025 revealed relapse—her cancer returned, crushing plans, per PA Real Life. “It felt cruel,” Kate said.

Now, Alice faces a stem cell transplant, her “cure,” with both sisters as perfect donor matches—a rare 6% chance, per Anthony Nolan. Chemotherapy resumed to prep her, and the transplant is set for May 2025, per The Independent. Despite relapse, Alice seized control, marrying her partner Hayden on March 15, 2025, at London’s Old Marylebone Town Hall, calling it “amazing,” per PA Real Life. Her grit shines through.

Finding Hope Amid Hardship

The doctor diagnosed with leukaemia in A&E has inspired others with her optimism. Alice’s sisters are running the April 27, 2025, London Marathon to raise funds for Leukaemia UK, with Alice hoping to cheer, holding a sign: “Run my stem cells, run!” per The Independent. Their fundraising page, per JustGiving, reflects a community rallying around her. “Happiness can be found even in the darkest times,” Alice quotes from Harry Potter, per PA Real Life.

Her story highlights AML’s unpredictability—22% five-year survival, per Leukaemia UK—but also medical advances. Stem cell transplants boost recovery odds, per Mayo Clinic. On X, users share her tale, with @CancerSupportUK noting her positivity. Alice urges others facing cancer to stay hopeful: “Things are always changing with research,” she said. For more on AML, visit Cancer Research UK.

Conclusion

The doctor diagnosed with leukaemia in A&E, Alice Bolton, faced a shocking shift from healer to patient in one hour, mistaking AML for glandular fever. Her rapid diagnosis, driven by a blood test and biopsy, launched a grueling journey—chemotherapy, remission, relapse, and now a stem cell transplant. Yet, Alice’s resilience, from marrying amid relapse to inspiring her sisters’ marathon run, captivates. Her story, amplified on X, underscores the need for vigilance with vague symptoms and the power of hope. As she fights on, Alice proves cancer isn’t a death sentence—it’s a battle where positivity and progress can light the way.