Leah Naidoo: a journey from cancer diagnosis to recovery

‘NEVER GIVE UP’

- NADIA KHAN

FOUR years after being diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), Leah Naidoo has been given a new lease of life and is thriving.

She was recently found to be “cancer-free”.

Kavashnee Naidoo said her daughter was 6 years old when she was diagnosed with ALL.

ALL is a rapidly progressing cancer of the blood and bone marrow that affects the white blood cells. Symptoms may include fatigue, fever, bruising, pale skin and enlarged lymph nodes.

Naidoo, who lives in Darnall, said Leah, now 11, was taken to the doctor after they noticed her tying a bandage around her left leg on August 1 that year.

“We initially thought she must have hurt her leg as she was quite an active child, but we were wrong. The next morning we took her to our family doctor, a general practitioner. The doctor said she had anaemia and recommended some blood tests. He said we should return in two days for the results.

“After the blood tests, the doctor called us later that day. He said we needed to see him urgently. Our emotions ran high as we did not know what could be wrong with her. When we arrived at his surgery, he said she must be admitted immediately to the hospital.”

The following day, Naidoo said they found out Leah had cancer.

“We did not know the type or stage of cancer. That evening, her nose bled for the first time. I was terrified. They did more blood tests, as well as tested us both for Covid-19. While I was negative, she tested positive.