Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) resources and support organisations
There are many organisations, support groups, books, videos and other resources to help you cope with acute myeloid leukaemia and its treatment.
Cancer Research UK information and support
Cancer Research UK is the largest cancer research organisation in the world outside the USA. We fund research on all aspects of cancer from its causes to prevention and treatment.
We are committed to producing high quality information for people affected by cancer. As well as looking at the information on this website you can call our nurse freephone helpline on 0808 800 4040. They are available from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Or you can send them a question online.
Cancer Chat is our online forum where you can share experiences.
Leukaemia support organisations
Blood Cancer UK funds research into leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma. It also provides patient information booklets and leaflets that you can download or order from their website.
Support line: 0808 2080 888
Email address: support@bloodcancer.org.uk
Bpositive is a charity that provides support and information for those affected by acute leukaemia. They have an online community that you can join, as well as providing podcasts called Bpositive bloodstream that you can listen to.
The Leukaemia Cancer Society is a charity that provides information, support and has a befriending service. It's also involved in organising events to recruit donors for the stem cell registry, fundraising for research and raising awareness of blood cancers.
Support line: 0208 374 4821
Leukaemia Care is a national blood cancer support charity, committed to ensuring that anyone affected by blood cancer receives the right information, advice and support.
It provides a range of support services to patients and their carers, including information, support groups, patient and carer conferences, and nurse education days.
Freephone helpline: 08088 010 444
Chat via WhatsApp on 07500068065
Blood and bone marrow organisations
Anthony Nolan runs one of the largest bone marrow donor databases in the world. It has regional centres which are listed on its website. It also provides information about being a stem cell or bone marrow donor.
It is looking for people in good health aged 16–30 to join the Anthony Nolan register. In particular, they need more young men and people from black and minority ethnic communities to sign up.
General enquiries: 0303 303 0303, open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm
Email: patientinfo@anthonynolan.org
The National Blood Service runs the blood donation scheme and organises the supply of blood products. They also run the British Bone Marrow Register. People aged between 17 and 40 can join the register. Let the staff know you are interested in being a stem cell or bone marrow donor when you next donate blood.
Phone the number below or look at the website for more information about becoming a blood stem cell or bone marrow donor.
Tel: 0300 123 2323
DKMS used to be called Delete Blood Cancer. It aims to provide a matching donor for every blood cancer patient in need of a blood stem cell donation. It has offices in the UK, Germany, Chile, Poland, India, Africa and the United States.
People between the ages of 18 to 55 and are in general good health can join the register.
Email: info@dkms.org.uk
Phone: 020 8747 5620
The African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust (ACLT) aims to increase the number of bone marrow and stem cells donors from all ethnicities, with a focus on African and Caribbean people in the UK who need a transplant.
Phone: 020 3757 7700
Email: info@aclt.org
General support organisations
Macmillan Cancer Support is a charity that gives practical, medical and financial support to people with cancer in the UK. Its helpline gives guidance on cancer and advice on benefits. It also publishes booklets about cancer and treatments. Information is available in other languages.
Freephone: 0808 808 00 00 (7 days a week, 8am to 8pm)
Contact email form
Macmillan Cancer Support has a separate section on its website for teenagers and young adults with cancer. It offers advice and support on how to cope with cancer, and the chance to share experiences of cancer with other teenagers.
This is the American National Cancer Institute's patient information on leukaemia.
It's detailed and comprehensive but there are few images.
Young Lives vs Cancer is a charity that provides clinical, practical, financial and emotional support for children and young people and their families who are affected by cancer. You can chat to the social care team through their live chat. Or you can email or phone them.
Phone: 0300 303 5220 Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm.
Teenage Cancer Trust is a national charity providing specialist units, expert staff, support events, education and information for 13-24 year olds diagnosed with cancer, and their friends and families.
Teenage Cancer Trust also work closely with healthcare professionals and researchers to lead the way on developing cancer care for teenagers and young adults.
Teenage Cancer Trust
The Place
175 High Holborn
London
WC1V 7AA
Phone: 020 7612 0370
Email: hello@teenagecancertrust.org
Books about leukaemia
ED Ball and A Kagan
Jones and Bartlett Publishers, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-4496-6583-8
An American book written by a patient and a doctor. It provides clear information about the treatment for leukaemia and covers areas such as quality of life. As it is American, some of the information may not be relevant to a UK audience.
T Mughal and J Goldman
Wiley-Blackwell, 1998
ISBN 0632053461
Co-written by a leukaemia specialist, this book is intended for patients and relatives, as well as GP’s and other health workers. It covers the causes and treatment of leukaemias.
Patsy Westcott
Wayland, 2002
ISBN 0750241616
This is a book for younger readers. It was produced with Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research (now Bloodwise). It addresses both successful treatment and the possibility of dying from leukaemia.
K Chilman-Blair and J Taddeo
Medikidz Publishing, 2010
ISBN: 190693505X
A comic style book aimed at children aged 8 to 15. You join Richard on his tour of the human body as he learns about leukaemia and its treatment and side effects.
Booklets, blogs, stories, podcasts, audiobooks and factsheets
Macmillan Cancer Support have a variety of resources that you can access online. These include:
- booklets that you can view online or download
- podcasts you can listen to
- blogs
- personal stories
- audiobooks
They cover many topics and you can access them by clicking on the tabs in the link below.
Blood Cancer UK have several booklets and factsheets. Some of these include:
- Your blood cancer diganosis: What happens now?
- Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL)
- Adult Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML)
- Acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL)
- Blood stem cell and bone marrow transplants: the seven steps
- Side effects factsheets
- Treatment factsheets
- Eating well with neutropenia
Here is some of the booklets and factsheets from Anthony Nolan.
- Essential Facts for Transplant Patients
- Life After Transplant: An Essential Guide to Graft Versus Host Disease (GvHD)
- Managing fatigue after a stem cell transplant
- Preparing for isolation
- Essential Facts for Transplant Recovery
The Children's Cancer and Leukaemia Group have booklets and factsheets. You can view or download them online. Some of these include:
- Ben's stem cell transplant
- Donating your stem cells to your brother or sister
- Jess's bone marrow donation
- Total body irradiation
- Stem cell transplant. A guide to stem cell transplantation for teenagers and young adults
Healthtalk.org
Provides free, reliable information about health issues including mental health, by sharing people's real-life experiences.
Find local cancer information and support services
The NHS website helps you to find local cancer information and support in England.
