London Marathon Dream: 75-Year-Old's Blood Cancer Battle and Comeback
A 75-year-old London woman, diagnosed with blood cancer after initially attributing her symptoms to marathon fatigue, has declared that completing the London Marathon with her daughter would be a "dream come true." Pritpal Kaur, a sales assistant at Harrods, had her first attempt at the marathon in 2023 thwarted by severe cramping, only to face a shocking health revelation shortly thereafter.
Symptoms Misinterpreted as Marathon Aftermath
Within a month after attempting the London Marathon with her 45-year-old daughter, Minreet Kaur, a freelance journalist, Pritpal began experiencing debilitating back pain and extreme fatigue. She initially believed these were normal post-marathon aches. "I thought my symptoms were from the marathon," Pritpal explained. "I had really bad back pain, I had no energy, I was sleeping all the time. I said to myself, 'Why is this happening to me?' I was always full of energy."
Her symptoms persisted, including muscle aches and rib pain, leading to a frustrating medical journey. In May 2023, doctors prescribed painkillers, attributing her issues to old age, with initial blood tests showing normal results. By June, as painkillers proved ineffective and shortness of breath emerged, Minreet took her mother to A&E at West Middlesex University Hospital. Further tests initially found nothing conclusive, but a scan later indicated a moderate chest blockage, diagnosed as angina, leading to medication that caused severe side effects.
Diagnosis and the Fight for Answers
Dissatisfied with the treatment, Minreet filed a complaint with the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS), which prompted a senior cardiologist to recommend further investigations. By September 2023, after what Minreet described as "five months of hell," Pritpal underwent a bone mineral density scan, a blood test revealing abnormal paraprotein levels, and a bone marrow test. At age 73, she was diagnosed with myeloma, a type of blood cancer affecting bone marrow.
"When we were told I had myeloma, I just started crying. I didn't know what to do and I was just so shocked," Pritpal recalled. Minreet added, "It was all going over my head. We just couldn't believe what we heard." The diagnosis led to immediate chemotherapy and extensive medication to strengthen her bones, a period Minreet called "the worst time of our lives."
Remission and a Renewed Marathon Ambition
After six months of treatment, Pritpal's paraprotein levels dropped, and she entered remission by March 2024, though she requires lifelong monthly infusions. Inspired by her mother's resilience, Minreet and her father, Rajinder, ran the London Marathon in April 2024 to raise funds for Blood Cancer UK. Minreet also founded Asian Women Run, a west London group encouraging greater representation and activity among Asian women.
Pritpal gradually regained her strength, participating in park runs and listing "do the London Marathon once in my lifetime" as a top goal for this year. In February, when spots were allocated to her daughter's running group, Pritpal eagerly accepted the opportunity to try again. The mother-daughter duo has been training diligently, using techniques like "jeffing" (intermittent running and walking) and completing multiple 10K and 15K runs, a hike in Portugal, and a Mother's Day 10K.
Dreaming of the Finish Line
On April 26, they plan to wear matching "Asian Women Run" attire, including tees, shoes, and leggings, as they tackle the marathon. "It would be a dream come true," Pritpal said. "It's what I've always wanted to do so I'd be over the moon. And if I've got the energy, I'm definitely going to sprint over the finish line." Minreet echoed the sentiment, calling it "a mother and daughter thing" and hoping it inspires others.
A spokesperson for Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust stated, "While we do not comment on the care or treatment of individual patients, the Trust is committed to providing safe, high quality care and follows robust clinical and governance processes to ensure concerns are reviewed and used to improve our services."
