Brooke Sanstrom

I'm taking on The March Charge...

A blood cancer diagnosis was not on my 2024 bingo card, but on the 19th of December, a phone call from my GP and a 13-hour wait in the emergency room changed my life forever. Being diagnosed with a cancer (Polycythemia Vera), I didn't even know existed, was a challenge in itself, let alone a significant fear of needles lol. Now over a year in, hundreds of needles while listening to my needle song "I Can Do It With A Broken Heart" (heart is very much not broken btw), I now don't bat an eye when a needle comes my way (even the really think ones eekkkk). 

One of my biggest challenges with my diagnosis has been my energy levels and exhaustion. Being someone who thrived on being active and exercising to feel as strong as I could, struggling to walk around to do the food shopping was a massive change. I have decided to take on the March charge with my amazing partner and friends to challenge myself and raise money for more research. Polycythemia Vera is a very rare blood cancer that generally does not affect people my age (I truly am one of a kind). There has been very limited research for my cancer compared to the more well-known ones, to the point where I walk into hospitals and GP clinics and no one knows what I am talking about. 

I have learnt to advocate for myself, to be kind to myself, and to live life to the fullest. I have been lucky enough that I am able to live with my diagnosis, despite all the challenges with my cancer.