Councillor from West Lothian who climbed Ben Nevis with broken back had incurable blood cancer
Myeloma occurs in the bone marrow but is frequently missed as symptoms are vague
A West Lothian councillor who climbed Ben Nevis with a broken back later discovered he had an incurable blood cancer.
In 2019, just weeks after climbing Scotland's highest mountain for the fourth time, Harry Cartmill was diagnosed with myeloma.
The Bathgate councillor, who was 53 at the time, is raising awareness of the condition in the run-up to Myeloma Awareness Week (June 16 to 22), to ensure more are patients diagnosed before it's too late.
Despite being the third most common type of blood cancer, myeloma is frequently missed, as its symptoms, including back pain, easily broken bones, fatigue and recurring infection, are vague and often linked to general ageing or minor conditions.
Harry said: 'I've had two stem cell transplants and there have been hard times but I'm still here six years later. Not only still here but still living life to the full.
'If something doesn't feel right, mention it. Get it checked. Less than two months before diagnosis I climbed Ben Nevis. I was an amateur athlete, so having a bit of pain didn't stop me. But my back was bothering me when I did it, I was really struggling on the way down.
"I used to walk up Ben Nevis like it didn't exist and I thought, 'It must be old age kicking in'. Of course it was nothing to do with that.'
Harry had climbed Scotland's highest peak with two broken vertebrae and had lost two inches in height as a result.
Myeloma occurs in the bone marrow and currently affects over 33,000 people in the UK, and more than 2,300 people in Scotland.
Harry is backing Myeloma UK's Know the Warning Signs campaign in which people with myeloma are featured with yellow warning signs painted on the area of their body where their symptoms first started.
Myeloma UK has also released a symptom translator to help conversations with GPs and make sure no patient falls through the net.
Initially, Harry put his sore back down to 'wear and tear' from years of playing golf and mountain climbing. Prescribed painkillers, he realises the shooting pain was unlike any he'd felt before and was in a different part of his back, which should have raised the alarm with his GP.
He said: 'I'd had great health my whole life. When you push yourself, climbing mountains, or cycling 100 miles and running half marathons, you're used to a bit of pain.
'I went to the doctor and he told me to take it easy, cut back on the golf, take painkillers. He said I was getting a bit older. But the pain progressively got worse. I think there needs to be an awareness there for some GPs. Not everybody with a pain in their spine has been overdoing it in the garden or playing too much golf.
'The last week-and-a-half before I was diagnosed, I was really struggling. I knew something was wrong. I knew it wasn't just Father Time catching up with me. But I never thought it could be myeloma.'
Another GP at his practice, realised something was wrong and sent Harry for an X-ray, which showed he had two broken vertebrae. He was quickly diagnosed with myeloma.
Harry continued: 'When they saw the broken bones, they asked me if I'd had some kind of trauma, if I had fallen off my bike. So that rang alarm bells. A day or two later they drilled into my hip and that's when the diagnosis of myeloma came. I used to be almost 6ft and now I'm just over 5ft 9in. My spine is not as straight as it once was.'
Harry started chemotherapy and later received a stem cell transplant.
'The treatment was incredibly hard,' Harry admits. 'I was a skeleton who could barely walk up the stairs.'
Unfortunately, Harry's cancer returned after just 18 months and he underwent chemotherapy again, followed by a second stem cell transplant. Two years on he is still in remission and determined to live a full life.
He attended his daughter's wedding in May and last year celebrated a year in remission and his dog's 12th birthday by climbing Tinto Hill.
'When you get a second chance, or a third chance as I was given, you have to make the best of every day with your family, your friends, your pets,' said Harry.
'I'm 60 at the start of next year and that would be a great milestone to reach, and I'm hoping that I can, because when I was diagnosed I didn't think I would get to that. I'm lucky to be alive.'
Dr Sophie Castell, Chief Executive at blood cancer charity Myeloma UK, said: We know that myeloma can be difficult to diagnose, so bring the Myeloma UK Symptom Translator with you to the GP, ask for answers and get to the bottom of what's causing your pain, infections or fatigue.'
Myeloma UK also run an Infoline, call 0800 980 3332.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
4 days ago
- Scottish Sun
I was days away from being paralysed after blaming back pain on being pregnant – a killer disease was eating my spine
"I thought, I'm just too young. I've not had enough time with my son," Sheema tells Sun Health - as she shares grave warning to all new mums RED FLAG I was days away from being paralysed after blaming back pain on being pregnant – a killer disease was eating my spine Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SHEEMA Patel was just weeks into motherhood when agonising back pain left her screaming in the street. Doctors told the now 42-year-old from Harlow, Essex it was sciatica, but the truth was far worse: an incurable disease was eating holes in her spine. 4 Sheema Patel, now 42, developed back pain while pregnant with her son Mason Credit: Family Handout / Myeloma UK 4 Her symptoms left her in agony Credit: Family Handout / Myeloma UK By the time the disease was diagnosed as cancer, Sheema, who had just given birth to son Mason two months before, was told she was only three to four days away from being paralysed. She tells Sun Health: 'I thought, I'm just too young. I've not had enough time with my son. 'The message that was delivered made me feel I only had weeks to live.' Sheema, who works in HR, had first felt something was wrong when her back cracked while she was making her bed in April 2023, aged 40. It immediately started to hurt, but she put the pain down to her pregnancy. As the pain worsened, she went to the hospital, where she was given a low dose of morphine. She says: 'My whole body went into a kind of spasm. 'But they couldn't do much because I was pregnant, so I decided to leave the hospital.' After giving birth on July 30, her symptoms worsened. Three weeks later, she started experiencing severe leg pain. At this point, her pain was dismissed as sciatica - an irritated nerve - and the discomfort of post-partum recovery. What is myeloma? Her GP prescribed codeine, and she tried acupuncture, but nothing helped. Then one day in late September, she was forced to cut short a walk near her house. 'I was three houses down and screaming in pain,' she recalls. 'My husband had to carry me, push the baby and walk the dog home. It was really bad.' 4 Scans revealed she had cancer that had left holes in her back Credit: Family Handout / Myeloma UK A few days later, in late September, Sheema saw a new GP at her practice. The doctor suspected deep vein thrombosis, when a blood clot gets stuck in a vein, and sent her to A&E for more tests. After a series of scans and some back and forth, Sheema was told in October that she had lesions - holes in her spine, ribs and sternum - caused by myeloma, an incurable blood cancer that occurs in the bone marrow. The disease affects around 33,000 people in the UK. 'Don't ignore pain' She says: 'I was an odd case because I wasn't over 60, or a man, and I didn't fit the criteria for myeloma. 'But nobody should go through so much pain. It took months to be diagnosed, as it was just put down to sciatic pain.' She adds: 'My advice would be, don't ignore pain and keep pushing. Nothing was showing up in my bloods. "Back pain shouldn't go on for months, even if you're pregnant or have a new baby. "Ask for some X-rays or an MRI. You don't think you're going to get cancer at 40, but cancer doesn't discriminate.' Dr Sophie Castell, chief executive at Myeloma UK, the blood cancer charity, says: 'Myeloma has one of the longest times to diagnosis of any cancer. "One of the biggest barriers remains identifying and piecing together the symptoms quickly and before too much damage is done. "Myeloma symptoms, back pain, fatigue, infections, are often vague and can be mistaken for ageing or minor conditions." This is partly because, unlike many cancers, myeloma doesn't form lumps or tumours. Instead, it attacks the bone marrow, the spongy material inside bones such as the spine, pelvis, ribs, and long bones, causing lesions that weaken bones and can lead to fractures. 'I thought was going to die there and then' Over a third of patients see their GP at least three times before diagnosis, and a quarter wait more than 10 months. Sheema recalls her diagnosis: 'I was upset. It was like I was going to die there and then. 'They didn't explain anything. You just don't want to believe it. It didn't make sense. 'The only thing I kept thinking about was that I wanted to take my son to Disneyland.' 4 Sheema is now in remission, though she knows the cancer is incurable Credit: Family Handout / Myeloma UK She sought a second opinion privately, where she was told the damage was so severe that any pressure could leave her paralysed. 'He confirmed that I needed to remain bedbound as any pressure to my spine was going to result in me being paralysed,' she says. 'It took a few days to process," she adds. "My mum had to move in with us because I wasn't able to do anything for my baby. The 10 red flag symptoms of myeloma Myeloma is an incurable blood cancer that occurs in the bone marrow. Despite being the third most common type of blood cancer, myeloma is difficult to detect as symptoms are often linked to general ageing or minor conditions. While it is incurable, myeloma is treatable in the majority of cases. Treatment can lead to periods of remission but the cancer will inevitably come back. Symptoms of myeloma: Persistent or unexplained pain for more than four to six weeks, particularly in the back or ribs Tiredness that doesn't improve with rest (fatigue) Frequent or hard-to-clear infections Easily broken bones or unexpected fractures Experiencing either frequent urination or minimal to no urination Swollen legs or abdomen Nosebleeds or unexplained bleeding or bruising Unexplained weight loss Numbness in the feet, hands, or legs Unexplained shortness of breath Source: Myeloma UK 'I couldn't even carry him. It was awful.' In March 2024, following her fourth round of chemotherapy, one of Sheema's spinal discs collapsed. Living with incurable cancer She required urgent surgery to stabilise her back, and in May, she underwent a stem cell transplant. She says: 'It was difficult. 'I feel like I missed out on the experience of being a new mum. "My son became very close to my mum because I wasn't able to carry him or care for him as I wanted to. 'But we've become much closer now, and we share a strong bond. I do everything I can for him now, taking him to soft play, to the zoo, and more.' Sheema is now in remission, though she knows the cancer is incurable. She adds: 'I know myeloma isn't curable and that it will likely return, but I'm a positive person. 'I'm focused on moving forward, going on holidays, taking my son to Disneyland when he's three or four, and building lasting memories. I'm incredibly fortunate to have such a supportive family. 'Mason and my husband are what keep me going.' If you're worried you might have myeloma, it can be hard to explain vague symptoms in a way that gets taken seriously. To help with this, Myeloma UK has created a simple Symptom Translator, a downloadable guide that puts common symptoms into medical language your GP will understand. To find out more about Myeloma UK, visit
Daily Record
5 days ago
- Daily Record
Scots mum left with damaged kidney after cancer mistaken for menopause
Louise Greenbank felt pain in her rib alongside being incredibly fatigued in June 2021. A mum-of-three was left with a broken rib and severe kidney damage after her incurable blood cancer was wrongly blamed on menopause. Louise Greenbank, from Uddingston, began suffering from pain in her rib and felt incredibly fatigued in June 2021, but thought it was due to being worn out from running her family's convenience store during the pandemic, reports Glasgow Live. The 49-year-old, who lives with husband Aaron and their kids, Pearce, 11, Farrah, 13, and Morrin, 17, was misdiagnosed twice, first with inflammation around her ribs and breastbone, she was then told her symptoms were menopause-related by her GP. Two days after her 46th birthday - six months after the pain began - Louise was finally diagnosed with myeloma, an incurable blood cancer, in August 2021. Louise was told how she had developed kidney failure, had a broken rib and holes in her hip, pelvis and lower back caused by the cancer. She said: "I would fall asleep when I came home from lunch, but I put it down to my age and to my workload. 'Then I started to have bad night sweats; I was drenched. Breathing became agony, the bone pain was really bad. It was like somebody was knocking on my bones from the inside. I had been to A&E and they had done tests but they had sent me home. 'Unbeknownst to me at the time, I had a broken rib. I had all the symptoms you read about, but of course, I'd never heard of myeloma. I never thought it could be cancer.' Louise has now shared her story to raise awareness during Myeloma Awareness Week which runs from June 16 until June 22. She is fronting Myeloma UK's Know the Warning Signs campaign. which aims to help the public spot the signs before it is too late. She believes her symptoms started as early as March 2021, when she was hit with a cold she couldn't shake. By June, she began feeling more and more exhausted and experiencing nagging pain in her rib which she out down to her hectic schedule, constant heavy lifting, and even suspected she had COVID at one point. Louise's condition deteriorated and she was vomiting, sleeping constantly and struggled to get off the couch. She booked an appointment with her GP, who gave her painkillers, believing she had inflammation in her ribs. However, as her symptoms got worse she had to give up going to the gym due to plummeting strength and energy. Louise had blood tests done, which showed she was anaemic. But her symptoms were put down to menopause. 'I got sicker and sicker, I was vomiting, not eating, sleeping all the time,' she said. 'I couldn't get off the couch.' When Louise began slurring her words, her husband took her to the doctor, fearing a stroke. 'My mum and my husband thought I'd had a stroke,' she added. 'I was slurring my words and couldn't have a conversation. I was absolutely out of it.' Now in remission, Louise recalls the shock of her diagnosis. She said: "At the beginning, you feel you've been handed a death sentence. The consultant at the Royal in Glasgow gave me a five-year prognosis, which they shouldn't have done, because it's a very individual cancer and you just don't know. "I kept thinking, my wee boy is only seven, will I see him start high school? I was so unwell, my head was all over the place. I kept thinking about the impact on my children. 'But I'm quite a pragmatic, let's-get-this-done person. I thought, we need to turn this around. I think my three children were a Godsend. I didn't have time to stop and think about things, I had to be Mum. I had to pack lunches, the uniforms had to be washed and ironed. We tried to keep life as normal as possible. If you've got a positive mental attitude, it really stands you in a great stead to tackle the journey that you're on." She continued: 'I can see why it's missed because it's tiny little things that could be a multitude of things that are wrong with you. But myeloma can strike at any age, any level of fitness or mobility. So trust your gut and keep pushing for answers. For me it's about raising awareness. My mum said to me, 'If you can help one person, you've done your job'.' Despite still living with back pain and the many side effects of intensive treatment, she is determined to enjoy life and make memories with her kids. For the past three years, Louise and her family have also supported Myeloma UK's work and raised funds towards vital research into treatment and a cure. She added: "'I have goals in my head of what I want to achieve before I relapse, all centred around my children, and that's what keeps me going. My attitude now is, don't put things off, life is for living. I'm thankful for every month I get and I feel like I have a lot left in me.' Myeloma occurs in the bone marrow and currently affects over 2,300 in Scotland. It is the third most common type of blood cancer, yet it is frequently missed, as its symptoms, including back pain, easily broken bones, fatigue and recurring infection, are vague and often linked to general ageing or minor conditions. During awareness week, Myeloma UK has launched a symptom guide to help patients communicate clearly with their GP and avoid missed diagnoses. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Designed with the help of people living with myeloma and GPs, the handy guide, which can be downloaded at lists examples of symptoms in patients' own words alongside the corresponding medical term for each. Dr Sophie Castell, Chief Executive at blood cancer charity Myeloma UK, said: 'You wouldn't ignore a red light on the road or a caution sign on a freshly-mopped floor, so why ignore the warning signs that your body sends you? ' Myeloma has one of the longest times to diagnosis of any cancer. One of the biggest barriers remains identifying and piecing together the symptoms quickly and before too much damage is done. 'The most important thing you can do is get your symptoms checked. We know that myeloma can be difficult to diagnose, so bring the Myeloma UK Symptom Translator with you to the GP, ask for answers and get to the bottom of what's causing your pain, infections or fatigue. 'Know the warning signs, put your health first and help us catch myeloma earlier.'
Glasgow Times
5 days ago
- Glasgow Times
My menopause symptoms turned out to be incurable blood cancer
Louise Greenbank's cancer was misdiagnosed twice before she was eventually told she had myeloma in August 2021. By the time it was caught, two days after her 46th birthday, she was in kidney failure, had a broken rib and lesions, or holes, in her hip, pelvis and lower back. Her children - Pearce, Farrah and Morrin - were just seven, nine and 13. Pearce, Farrah and Morrin Greenbank (Image: Mike Wilkinson) Now Louise, from Uddingston, is sharing her story in support of Myeloma UK's Know the Warning Signs campaign as part of Myeloma Awareness Week (June 16 to 22), to help people spot the tell-tale symptoms before it is too late. 'I would fall asleep when I came home from lunch, but I put it down to my age and to my workload,' said the 49-year-old convenience store owner. 'Then I started to have bad night sweats and breathing became agony. It was like somebody was knocking on my bones from the inside. I had been to A&E and they had done tests but they had sent me home. 'Unbeknown to me at the time I had a broken rib. I had all the symptoms you read about, but of course, I'd never heard of myeloma. I never thought it could be cancer.' She added: 'I can see why it's missed because it's tiny little things that could be a multitude of things that are wrong with you. 'But myeloma can strike at any age, any level of fitness or mobility. So, trust your gut and keep pushing for answers.' (Image: Mike Wilkinson) Myeloma occurs in the bone marrow and currently affects more than 2300 people in Scotland. It is frequently missed, as its symptoms, including back pain, easily broken bones, fatigue and recurring infection, are vague and often linked to general ageing or minor conditions. One in four people wait more than 10 months for a diagnosis, but a simple blood test can, in most cases, pick up signs of the disease. Louise with her sister, Ros (Image: Mike Wilkinson) As part of Myeloma Awareness Week, Myeloma UK has released a symptom translator to help conversations with GPs. Dr Sophie Castell, chief executive at Myeloma UK, said: 'You wouldn't ignore a red light on the road or a caution sign on a freshly-mopped floor, so why ignore the warning signs that your body sends you? 'Myeloma has one of the longest times to diagnosis of any cancer. We know it can be difficult to diagnose, so bring the Myeloma UK Symptom Translator with you to the GP, ask for answers and get to the bottom of what's causing your pain, infections or fatigue.' (Image: Mike Wilkinson) While it is incurable, myeloma is treatable in the majority of cases. Treatment can lead to periods of remission but the cancer will inevitably come back. For Louise, the signs were there as early as March 2021, when she got a cold she just couldn't shake. By June, she was feeling more and more exhausted and experiencing nagging pain in her rib. Blood tests revealed she was anaemic, but her symptoms were put down to menopause. 'I got sicker and sicker, I was vomiting, not eating, sleeping all the time,' she said. 'I couldn't get off the couch.' When she started slurring her words, Louise's husband took her back to the GP thinking she might be having a stroke. She was taken to hospital, where she was diagnosed with myeloma. After chemotherapy, followed by a stem cell transplant, she is now in remission. 'At the beginning, you feel you've been handed a death sentence,' she went on. 'I kept thinking, my wee boy is only seven, will I see him start high school? But I'm quite a pragmatic, let's-get-this-done person. I thought, we need to turn this around.' Louise says her children have been 'a godsend.' 'I didn't have time to stop and think about things, I had to be mum,' she explained. 'I had to pack lunches, the uniforms had to be washed and ironed. We tried to keep life as normal as possible.' For the past three years, Louise and her family have also supported Myeloma UK's work and raised funds towards vital research into treatment and a cure. 'I have goals in my head of what I want to achieve before I relapse, all centred around my children, and that's what keeps me going,' she said. 'Morrin was 13 when I was diagnosed and now she's sat her last Higher and she's learning how to drive. My ultimate goal is to see her finish medical school.' Louise added: 'I'm turning 50 in August and I want to have a big holiday to celebrate. My attitude now is, don't put things off, life is for living.'
