Yuvraj's story – acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

Yuvraj was just 10 when he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in November 2020.  

Mum Surjeet said he was always a sporty child who loved fashion and being with his friends.

Mum Surjeet said he was always a sporty child who loved fashion and being with his friends.  

She said: “He started being sick and blood came up. We just had to get him to A&E as quick as possible; they did tests and they said: ‘he’s got cancer’. Your world just falls apart.” 

Yuvraj said: “I felt really scared at the time because I just wanted it to be over with.” 

He started a course of chemotherapy, but it was unsuccessful, and the family were told Yuvraj would need a stem cell transplant.   

Yuvraj underwent the transplant and said it was tough being in isolation afterwards. "For two months I really didn’t get to see anyone and I had to spend one of my birthdays there.”

The treatment was successful in treating the cancer but, two weeks after getting home, he started experiencing symptoms of graft vs host disease.  

“My hands just started bleeding out of nowhere and my layers of skin slowly kept peeling off,” said Yuvraj.

“Eventually it just went all over my body and then I found out that I was never going to have hair again.” 

Surjeet said: “He changed from brown to white; it did feel like Yuvraj was losing his identity. It’s really hard to accept he’s never going to look the same again.” 

As well as the ongoing side-effects and complications, Yuvraj was also rushed to intensive care to deal with an infection.   

Surjeet said: “It feels like Yuvraj’s childhood was just snatched away from him.” 

Yuvraj said he feels like the “odd one out” all the time, but he is grateful for the support from his family.

When I look in the mirror, I feel like I’ve made it here at least. I’m getting there, and I want to help raise awareness through Stand Up To Cancer.