NEWEST UPDATE!!! EastEnders – what is acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and what happens to Denise?

EastEnders kicked off  the illness for one year or more after being diagnosed. More than 20% will survive for five years or more.

Experiences and outcomes are partly dependent on age and other factors, including ethnicity. It’s important to note that one, three and five years are points commonly used by researchers to measure survival, but some people live for lan emotional new storyline for Denise Fox last week as she struggled to come to terms with a worrying health diagnosis.

After seeking answers about unexplained bouts of tiredness, Denise recently underwent medical tests and was told that she has acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), which is a form of blood cancer.

This marks the beginning of a huge journey for Denise, which will play out on screen for at least the rest of the year. Read on for further details…

Acute myeloid leukaemia is a rare form of blood cancer, which affects around 3,100 people per year in the UK.

As reported on the NHS website, the main symptoms include feeling tired or weak, experiencing breathlessness, looking pale, experiencing bruising or bleeding, and losing weight without explanation.

The illness is aggressive and fast-growing, so urgent treatment is required – as Denise was told on screen last week. This can include chemotherapy, radiotherapy and bone marrow or stem cell transplants.

Denise has delayed her own treatment because she wants to support her daughter Chelsea following Jordan’s accident, but upcoming episodes see her husband Jack and the doctors desperately try to change her mind.

Cancer Research UK states that more than 40% of people will surviveonger than this.

EastEnders bosses haven’t confirmed the outcome of Denise’s storyline.

When the plot was announced last month, the show revealed that it “will play out across the rest of the year [and] follow Denise in the wake of her diagnosis, exploring its impact on her and her loved ones in the months that follow”.

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Denise didn’t appear in January’s flashforward episode, set on New Year’s Day 2027, although she was clearly still part of life on Albert Square as Patrick and Libby were looking for her. She’d also left her phone behind and we know that an unknown person was trying to call her.

“As viewers follow Denise, we hope to shine a light on the realities and challenges of an acute myeloid leukaemia diagnosis and the impact it has on the person affected and those around them,” executive producer Ben Wadey said last week.

Who has EastEnders worked with on the storyline?

EastEnders has been consulting with Blood Cancer UK while working on this storyline.

“It was vital to us that Denise’s storyline is portrayed with sensitivity and care, and we’re grateful to Blood Cancer UK for their advice in helping us tell this story accurately,” Wadey said recently.

Helen Rowntree, CEO of Blood Cancer UK, added: “It’s been a privilege advising the EastEnders team to ensure Denise’s storyline reflects the real experiences of people living with blood cancer and those who care for them.

“Blood cancers, which include leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma, do not discriminate yet experiences and outcomes can vary significantly, including by ethnicity.

“Being Black and living with an aggressive blood cancer like acute myeloid leukaemia can bring additional challenges. We hope viewers gain a greater understanding of blood cancer’s impact and we’re pleased this issue is being highlighted on a powerful platform, helping make a ‘hidden’ cancer more visible.”