A student has told how she dismissed the first signs of her cancer as nothing more than brushing her teeth too hard.
Amber Cunningham-Rogan, from St Andrews, Scotland, contacted her dentist in 2020 after her gums began to bleed.
The then 21-year-old assumed she had either aggravated them with her toothbrush or developed gingivitis – the earliest stage of gum disease.
At the same time, Amber had been experiencing a strange numbness and tingling in her hands and legs.
But repeated GP visits, blood tests and scans raised no red flags.
It was only when the Edinburgh Napier University marketing management student was referred to hospital over concerns about low iron that doctors made a shocking discovery.
Tests revealed her white blood cell count was abnormally high, and a biopsy confirmed she had chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) – a rare, slow-growing but lifelong blood cancer that typically affects people over 60.
After six months of gruelling treatment, Amber was told she had achieved a deep molecular response, meaning only trace levels of the disease remained.
Amber Cunningham-Rogan, from St Andrews in Scotland, contacted her dentist in 2020 after she began suffering bleeding gums
The then 21-year-old believed she may have either aggravated her gums or had a mild case of gingivitis—the earliest stage of gum disease
Now Ms Cunningham-Rogan, who still undergoes treatment to keep her cancer stable, has spoken out about the unusual warning signs and urged others never to dismiss symptoms if something feels wrong.
She told The Sun: ‘I hadn’t experienced anything that screamed “cancer”, but for years I’d been going to the GP with symptoms that didn’t quite make sense.
‘Spinal scans and MRIs came back normal. It was frustrating – I knew something wasn’t right. One particularly bizarre symptom was bleeding gums.’
Chronic myeloid leukaemia is a slow-growing cancer of the white blood cells that can take years to develop. It is most often seen in people over 60.
Rather than being cured completely, most patients live with the condition under long-term control.
Around 840 people are diagnosed with CML each year in the UK, compared with about 9,000 in the US.
More than 6,000 people in Britain were living with the disease in 2010, according to Cancer Research UK.
Survival rates are generally good – around three quarters of patients on treatment now live for five years or more after their diagnosis.
But blood cancers like leukaemia can be notoriously difficult to spot, as the symptoms are often vague and easily mistaken for other conditions.
These can include persistent coughs, lingering colds, swollen glands, night sweats or fatigue.
Ms Cunningham-Rogan’s diagnosis came after the now 26-year-old was referred to haematology at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee in 2020, following a hereditary diagnosis of haemochromatosis, or iron overload.
Routine blood tests revealed abnormalities and a slightly raised white blood cell count. After repeated tests, she underwent a bone marrow biopsy.
Just a week later, in the middle of exam season, Amber received a call telling her she had CML and needed to start treatment immediately.
‘Everyone was pretty sure because of my age and health it wouldn’t be anything cancer related,’ she said.
She was put straight onto daily oral targeted therapy, but found the side effects – including hair loss, bone pain, migraines and rashes – ‘brutal’.
On one occasion, worrying heart palpitations during treatment saw her rushed to A&E.
She moved back home to St Andrews from Edinburgh to undergo therapy but continued with her degree.
After six months she achieved what doctors call a deep molecular response, meaning the cancer was undetectable at a certain level – though treatment remains ongoing.
Amber still lives with fatigue, bone pain, headaches and skin problems.
She has found comfort and support through residential programmes for young people with cancer, including Flynne’s Barn and the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust.
Online groups such as the Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia UK & Worldwide Facebook community have also been a lifeline.
‘I’m now a hopeful candidate for trying to go treatment-free,’ she said.
‘To be eligible, you must sustain a deep molecular response over time, and everything must be carefully assessed.’
‘For me, stopping treatment isn’t just about the meds, it’s about trying to get my life back.’
Colin Dyer, chief executive of Leukaemia Care, said: ‘Amber’s story is a powerful reminder that leukaemia can affect anyone, at any age, and that the signs are often subtle and easy to miss.
‘Too many people like Amber can spend months searching for answers before receiving a diagnosis.
‘That’s why our #SpotLeukaemia campaign is so important – it helps people recognise the key symptoms and empowers them to seek medical advice sooner.
‘Early diagnosis can make all the difference to treatment options and outcomes, and raising awareness is vital in saving lives.’
