'I've been given the gift of life'

A man says he has been given "the gift of life" after being given the all-clear from blood cancer thanks to an odds-beating transplant from his brother.

Adam Claxton, 42, from Worcester, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) last September.

He underwent a transplant on Christmas Eve using stem cells from his brother Leon, 40, and has just been told he is in remission.

"Having a transplant, you go into this waiting game where you've got to wait 100 days to have a biopsy," he explained. "It's a huge relief."

The NHS says AML is a rare but aggressive cancer, which usually requires immediate treatment.

Mr Claxton, a life and mindfulness coach, said he was fortunate to be diagnosed quickly.

He first went into hospital on 31 August with what he thought was a chest infection and was almost immediately sent for further treatment.

"I was really fortunate that when I went into have that initial blood test and got called back, that I was able to stay in the hospital straight away – treatment started, chemo started, my brother was tested," he explained.

His brother - to whom Mr Claxton says he has always been close - was found to be a suitable stem cell donor by the Anthony Nolan Trust, which maintains a register of people in need of a transplant.

The charity says the chance of someone being able to donate their stem cells to a sibling is 25%.

"To have my brother as a match instead of looking across the globe is so lucky," said Mr Claxton.

The operation took place on Christmas Eve - the anniversary of his grandfather's death.

"It was almost like one Claxton ended, and another one began again," he said. "It's just mad."

Mr Claxton added that his recovery was tough in the beginning, "But you keep on waiting for tomorrow, tomorrow's going to be better – and then one day, it was better."

Mr Claxton will still require more check-ups to make sure he remains cancer-free.

"The gratitude I have for everything in life now is that much greater," he said. "I don't know how close to death I was, but it wasn't ready to take me. I was given another chance... truly blessed, because I wasn't ready to go."

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