My CML Journey

My name is Onward Mudindo, I am one of the Founder members and the Secretary General of CML Zimbabwe Trust.  I was officially diagnosed with CML in 2014 but I am sure I was living with it since around mid of 2012. I loved cycling and I used to cycle for long distances of which my ability and strength to ride became lesser and lesser and more frequently in the beginning of 2014.  It started with abnormal night sweats, daily in the middle of the night I would woke up in a pool of sweat and letter on some loss of weight, bone pain and a hard stomach and that triggered my regular visit to clinic and nothing much was detected except a very high white blood count. Several test and scans were done and also detected that my spleen was enlarged, other tests like Philadelphia Chromosome were not available in my country and I had to sell the only car that I had to undergo some several tests including Bone Marrow Biopsy and other expensive test. To shorten the story: When I was told that I had CML, it was like a death sentence I spent several sleepless nights thinking about the future of my wife and 3 kids since I was the provider for the family. My doctor told me that you have better cancer because at least you have to take medication that can prolong your life. When I started taking my medication, I would struggle much with side effects and later became used and even welcomed our 4th born while on medication. My life has just returned to normal, though I lost my job, I have other things to do for survival and now enjoy my cycling and gardening and other farming activities. I never thought I can live, but now I am living with hope and also instilling hope to newly diagnosed patients in my country.