An active and healthy Queenslander whose back pain revealed a horror leukaemia diagnosis has joined thousands of Aussies in the search for a donor.
Greg Mason, 57, discovered he had Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) seven weeks ago and is now waiting for a stem cell donor.
Julie Mason told Daily Mail her husband had developed back pain in mid-July and that within a week the pain had spread down to his legs.
After two weeks of struggling to find the source of the pain, a routine blood test at Redland Hospital, Brisbane, revealed the devastating diagnosis.Â
‘We presented at emergency on Saturday and were told he had leukaemia on Monday. If we hadn’t gone in, he could’ve been dead in five days,’ Mrs Mason said.
She initially fell down a dark rabbit hole after reading about AML online, but quickly decided negativity wouldn’t help her or her husband.
‘We made a conscious decision to focus on the positive side of everything and try to laugh as much as possible because laughter is the best medicine,’ she said.
However, there is one major roadblock that has made it difficult for the couple to remain positive – Mr Mason is in desperate need of a stem cell donor.
Greg Mason (pictured with his wife, Julie Mason) was diagnosed with leukaemia after he started feeling fatigued and experienced persistent back pain for two weeks
Mr Mason (pictured) has three months to find a stem cell donor
People aged between 18 and 35 can donate stem cells through a more specialised blood donation, with young men considered the best candidates.
‘It’s quite cool – they put a catheter in each arm, blood comes out of one arm and goes through a machine that sifts out your stem cells, then your blood is pumped back into your other arm,’ Mrs Mason said.
‘Greg, or any other patient, then gets those stem cells transfused into him and they can repopulate his body in a couple of weeks.
‘I have seen stories of people going into remission and living an active and healthy life for another 22 years. It’s amazing.’Â
In order to have the best chance of beating leukaemia, Mr Mason will need a stem cell transfusion within the next three months.
Australia is currently experiencing a critical shortage of donors, with Australians urged to donate stem cells through Australian Red Cross Lifeblood.
Donors undergo a blood test to ensure the proteins on their stem cells match those of a recipients, who could be a patient from anywhere around the world.
As September is Leukemia and Lymphoma Awareness Month, the Masons have encouraged as many people as possible to donate.Â
Mr Mason (pictured) hoped his story would encourage more Aussies to donate stem cells
‘How amazing would it feel to save a life?’ Mrs Mason said. ‘What a great gift you could give someone.’
Her posts on social media have already gained thousands of reactions, with many promising to join the donor registry.
The couple have also urged anyone with unusual symptoms to get a blood test.
‘One thing Greg has said over the last seven weeks is he used to blow it off if he was a bit fatigued,’ Mrs Mason said.
‘So many of us are the same, we never go and get checked out.Â
‘If you’ve got some unexplained bruising, weird aches and pains or even if you’re more tired than usual, get a blood test.
‘It could save your life.’
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The desperate hunt for the one in a million who could save a dying man’s life – but time is fast running out…