Doctor Said Bloodwork Was ‘Normal,’ Then She’s Diagnosed with Leukemia (Exclusive)

Doctor Said Bloodwork Was ‘Normal,’ Then She’s Diagnosed with Leukemia (Exclusive)



uaetodaynews.com — Doctor Said Bloodwork Was ‘Normal,’ Then She’s Diagnosed with Leukemia (Exclusive)

NEED TO KNOW

  • Anabel Brenner Schleicher is a medical student with the dream of one day becoming a nurse practitioner in Georgia
  • After getting engaged in March 2024, she and her fiancé were excited for their upcoming wedding and honeymoon
  • However, all their plans came to a halt after Schleicher discovered an enlarged lymph node on her neck exactly a year later

At the start of 2025, Anabel Brenner Schleicher and her then-fiancé were both immersed in school to become nurse practitioners, balancing their studies while planning their wedding, which was scheduled for September of that year.

Life, though hectic, felt steady – until late March, when the 26-year-old student discovered a swollen lymph node on her neck that would quietly shift the course of everything.

“I had no other symptoms at the time other than the lymph node,” Schleicher tells PEOPLE exclusively. “The main concern with the lymph node was that more enlarged lymph nodes were continuously popping up, going down my neck.”

Two weeks without improvement, Schleicher set up an appointment with her primary care provider. Routine lab work was ordered and came back normal, leading to a referral to an ENT — a doctor who specializes in treating conditions of the ear, nose, and throat.

The ENT noted that although the lymph nodes were enlarged, he “was not concerned,” given the labs showed no sign of red flags. He recommended that she follow up with him in six weeks if the swelling remained.

Anabel Brenner Schleicher with family in March 2025.

Anabel Brenner


“I went back after five weeks because I noticed even more enlarged lymph nodes, and that was when he ordered an ultrasound and my first lymph node biopsy,” Schleicher recalls.

“Even with this ordered, he reassured me that cancer was highly unlikely and he was only ordering it to be safe since the lymph nodes were being so stubborn.”

After having the biopsy in late May, two and a half weeks went by without results, and at that point, Schleicher was growing concerned as more lymph nodes appeared above her clavicle and in her underarms.

Anabel Brenner Schleicher in the hospital.

Anabel Brenner


“(The ENT) then informed me that the lab, where my biopsy sample had been sent, let my sample expire; therefore, it could not be used,” she reveals. “I was then scheduled for a repeat biopsy on July 1.”

The day of her second biopsy, however, Schleicher noticed unusual bruising on her legs, so her ENT called for repeat bloodwork.

The next day, the bloodwork revealed a significant drop in her platelets, prompting a referral to a hematologist/oncologist. Additional labs were drawn to rule out less serious causes, but answers ultimately depended on the biopsy results.

Schleicher was officially diagnosed with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia on July 28, 2025 – four months after her original visit with her primary care physician.

Anabel Brenner Schleicher and her husband on their wedding day.

@ethantookthese


Prior to Schleicher’s oncology appointment, she was notified that she would likely be admitted for aggressive treatment on July 31, 2025. So, she and her fiancé decided to push up their nuptials – canceling their wedding, bachelor and bachelorette parties, and honeymoon, which were all right on the horizon.

Within 12 hours, their friends and family helped plan a beautiful, intimate wedding, and on July 30, the pair officially tied the knot.

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As of October 2025, Schleicher is in the consolidation phase of chemotherapy, which lasts nearly three months.

This follow-up treatment is administered after the first phase of treatment, known as “induction,” has achieved remission. It aims to eliminate any hidden cancer cells that remain undetected by routine tests, reducing the risk of the disease returning.

“Then interim maintenance lasting 56 days, then delayed intensification lasting 63 days, and then finally I enter maintenance, which lasts about 2 years,” Schleicher explains. “Once I reach maintenance, life should be more back to normal.”

Since the bone marrow biopsy done after the induction phase showed some residual disease, she will have a follow-up biopsy completed after the consolidation phase. If the disease persists, she will most likely need a bone marrow transplant.

After starting treatment, Schleicher and her now-husband moved in with her parents. With him working part-time and in school full-time, being at home means extra support for getting to appointments.

Anabel Brenner Schleicher and her husband.

Anabel Brenner


Although her social life is on pause due to her weakened immune system, she has come to accept the life changes that come with navigating cancer.

“There will be good days and bad days, and it’s alright to let yourself be sad on the bad days and lean on your support system on those days,” Schleicher tells PEOPLE. “Enjoy the good days and find the positives when you can; each chemotherapy treatment is one less and one step towards the finish line.”

As for the disease, Schleicher has a clear message: “Cancer is going to be embarrassed that it chose to mess with me.”

Disclaimer: This news article has been republished exactly as it appeared on its original source, without any modification.
We do not take any responsibility for its content, which remains solely the responsibility of the original publisher.


Disclaimer: This news article has been republished exactly as it appeared on its original source, without any modification. We do not take any responsibility for its content, which remains solely the responsibility of the original publisher.


Author: uaetodaynews
Published on: 2025-10-19 01:04:00
Source: uaetodaynews.com

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