In March 2026, I was diagnosed with AML which is a type of leukaemia. It’s an aggressive cancer and I will need treatment quickly. I’m only 30, My main symptoms were fatigue and brain fog, and I genuinely thought I was just anaemic. It’s rare for someone my age to get this, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen.
I’ll be going into hospital for a month of intensive chemotherapy very soon. I don’t yet know how many cycles I will need. The goal is remission, and I’m going into this feeling determined to make it through the other side.
So BLK CHERRY is taking a bit of a pause while I focus on treatment and healing.
Work is everything to me, so please keep enquiring, I’ll be back as soon as I’m able.
Cancer doesn’t discriminate. So if something feels off (or even if it doesn’t) ask for a blood test. Listen to your body because early detection matters.
As well as chemotherapy, I will need a stem cell transplant to prevent the cancer from returning. My sister is currently being tested as siblings are the best chance of a match.
However, my doctor told me that it can be harder for mixed race people to find a match.
So my call out is this: please consider becoming a stem cell donor. Especially if you are a person of colour, or you have mixed race heritage. it’s harder for mixed race people to find a match.
It’s a non-surgical process where blood is taken from one arm, passed through a machine to harvest stem cells, and returned to the other arm. It saves lives, and I will need this treatment to save mine.
Here is a list of those who are most likely to be a close match to me:
Black Caribbean + White British/Irish
People with West African ancestry from the regions that make up my heritage, especially:
Nigeria (including Yoruba)
Benin & Togo
Ivory Coast & Ghana
Senegal
People from Afro‑Caribbean communities
People with British and Irish ancestry
I was worried about sharing something so difficult and vulnerable, but if what I’m going through can encourage someone to go to the doctors, or become a stem cell donor, then it’s worth it.
I am so lucky to have the support system I have around me. I have been inundated with love and it’s keeping me going.
Please keep making enquiries if you want a website from me in the future, because I will be back!
As I am self employed, my income has stopped and I won’t be earning any money for at least the next couple of months. Any donation (no matter how small) will help towards my living costs and I will be endlessly grateful.
Thank you so much for reading.
Beth x