Jurassic Park actor Sam Neill has revealed he wrote a moving note to his children while battling stage three blood cancer.
The 76-year-old from New Zealand announced earlier this year that he had angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL), a rare cancer affecting the lymphatic system, the network’s fight against diseases of the body.
The actor revealed in an interview with Australian history that he started taking a new experimental drug to fight the disease after chemotherapy failed.
Symptoms of AITL may include fever, night sweats, rash, and autoimmune conditions.
Here, MailOnline reveals six warning signs for several types of blood cancer.
Symptoms of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, a type of blood cancer, may include high fever, night sweats, rash, and autoimmune conditions.
Sam Neill revealed the moving letter he wrote to his children as he battles stage three blood cancer
Fatigue
Feeling tired even after getting enough sleep and rest could be a sign of anemia.
Caused by low levels of red blood cells – which carry oxygen throughout the body – anemia can make you feel tired, short of breath and look pale.
Although this can be a sign of dietary deficiencies, such as a lack of iron in your diet, Blood Cancer UK warns that it is also a warning sign of blood cancer.
To check if you are anemic, experts suggest lowering your lower eyelid. If you are anemic, it will appear light pink instead of dark pink or red.
Other symptoms of anemia include feeling faint and headaches, according to the charity.
Unexplained rash
Bruising is normally a sign of bleeding under the skin and is caused by an injury.
But if they appear for no reason, it could be a sign of something more sinister.
An unexplained bruise could mean you have low platelets, explains Blood Cancer UK.
“They appear darker or a different color to the skin around them and may be sensitive when you touch them,” the charity warns.
These unexplained bruises may also appear as a rash. This may appear as small spots on the skin or as larger discolored spots, explains Blood Cancer UK.
These discolored spots and patches look like a rash, but are actually groups of small bruises.
On black and brown skin, these spots and blotches may appear purple or darker than the surrounding skin. On lighter skin, it usually appears red or purple.
But bleeding gums, nose, prolonged bleeding from a cut, heavy periods or blood in urine or stool are also warning signs of blood cancer.
Sam also revealed he has been in remission for 12 months thanks to cancer medication, but admits he is “prepared” for the fact that the medication will eventually stop working.
Unexplained fever
Blood cancer can cause persistent, recurring and serious infections.
This is because people with the disease have low levels of white blood cells, which usually fight infections.
A high temperature of 38°C (100.4°F) or higher, even if there are no obvious signs of infection, could also be a sign of the disease, Blood Cancer UK warns.
Flu-like symptoms such as chills, chills, cough, or sore throat are all signs of an infection.
In some cases, people with a type of blood cancer called lymphoma have heavy night sweats.
TThe cause of these night sweats is unclear, the association says.
Bumps and swelling
Abnormal white blood cells can build up in your lymph nodes when you have blood cancer, causing swelling and bumps.
These usually appear in the neck, armpits or groin, according to Blood Cancer UK.
Most are painless, but sometimes they can be painful, the association says.
“If there are bumps or swellings further inside your body and they are putting pressure on organs such as your lungs, this can cause pain, discomfort or shortness of breath,” explains Blood Cancer. UK.
The Jurassic Park star, 76, told Australian Story he began considering writing the letter to his son Tim, daughter Elena and grandchildren after being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s blood cancer .
Abdominal problems
Stomach pain can be another sign of blood cancer.
It is caused by an abnormal buildup of blood cells in the spleen, explains Blood Cancer UK.
This can trigger bloating and a feeling of fullness after eating only a small amount.
Some people experience discomfort and pain in the abdominal area, as well as bloating.
You may also feel pain under the ribs on the left side, the association says.
Unexplained weight loss
Losing weight without trying can be a sign of blood cancer.
The spleen can crush the stomach and make you feel full, according to Cancer Research UK. The association suggests this could cause you to eat less than usual.
However, some people lose weight even when eating normally.
This is called cachexia, where your body doesn’t absorb all the fats, proteins, and carbohydrates in your food and burns calories faster than normal.
Scientists say cancer releases chemicals into the bloodstream that contribute to fat and muscle loss.
