LJ on being diagnosed with leukaemia at 19 – and why he’s encouraging others to get support

Published: 01 May 2025

LJ was 19 when he put his university plans on hold to undergo aggressive chemotherapy treatment for leukaemia. He’s now pursuing his creative ambitions and encouraging other men to use the support available and get checked if they feel unwell.

Early signs of leukaemia and being diagnosed at 19

LJ felt like an outsider growing up in Croydon, South London, due to being the only child of Asian heritage in his class at school, but was determined to find his own path and direction.

A young man of Asian heritage is sitting at home at a desk in front of a laptop. He's holding a camera. There are plants and ornaments in the background.

It was when he was studying at Ravensbourne University in Greenwich that he was diagnosed with cancer, after finding a lump in his neck.

He is sharing his story as part of our Whoever You Are campaign.

“I get a phone call and a letter as well, which said I’d have to come in urgently…I completely ignored that. I was thinking I was fine…I was preoccupied.”

LJ’s leukaemia diagnosis and treatment journey

After another phone call asking him to come in urgently, LJ visited the doctor with his then girlfriend. Hearing the words “we don’t have good news…you have leukaemia’, LJ initially didn't understand.

"My reaction was simply, ‘what?’ I had no idea what leukaemia was. I had to ask what it was and he explained that I had cancer."

“I remember when I was trying to find out more about the stem cell transplant, the Macmillan leaflets and website were really helpful. I was learning information about what I’d experience after the transplant.”

Feeling like he had 'no control’ in his life for the first time, LJ started an aggressive course of chemotherapy across around five months soon after. Radiotherapy and a stem cell transplant followed.

His cancer is now a more treatable acute lymphoblastic lymphoma.

“The Macmillan leaflets and website were really helpful. I was learning information about what I’d experience after the transplant.”

Challenging cancer stigma and encouraging young men to speak up about their health

He wants to support other men and raise awareness of the truths around cancer in certain communities, challenging some of the ‘stigma towards cancer’ and cancer myths, such as the idea that ‘it’s a disease you can catch’.

LJ feels that many men may experience feelings of denial around their health and wants to use his creativity and platform to change this. He says: “I’m working myself into a purposeful place, where I know I can have conversations, talk to young men, talk cancer and help them look at their life in a different way.”

He is also encouraging other men to use support available and get checked if they feel unwell.