Shortly after, she found herself in Canberra Hospital with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML).

She was thirty-four.

Today is World Blood Cancer Day and to spread awareness, this is Rowena McLean's story of how she overcame AML.

On December 22, 2016 Rowena McLean discovered her life was about to be turned on its head.

"I was going to host Christmas Day," Ms McLean said.

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"I was busy cleaning up the house, doing the shopping and taking care of my two-year-old daughter, Haylee.

"However, I could barely keep my eyes open each day."

The mother of two described her first round of chemotherapy which included a six-hour nosebleed.

"The medical team kept feeding me platelets and I constantly needed ice on my head," she said.

"They were giving me medication to clot the blood, but I was swallowing so much.

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"As I was taking tablets to stop the bleeding, I ended up throwing up clots the size of golf balls."

Three rounds of chemotherapy later, the Goulburn resident was completely fine, or so she thought.

In February of 2019, it came back, this time in the bone.

She had to move to Sydney for a bone marrow transplant and the global search began for an unrelated matched donor.

She found one in the form of a wizard.

That's what she called him anyway.

"I had my transplant from a perfect match from the UK, who we nicknamed Mr Potter," Ms McLean said.

It was around that time that Ms McLean's relationship with her husband Trevor hit an all time low.

Their relationship had broken down, but was resolved when they found out her blood cancer was back.

Things looked upsy daisy when she was AML free once again.

However, it returned, but only after a one-year hiatus this time.

"I needed a stem cell transplant," she said.

"My daughter Alycia said yes to becoming the donor even though I had second thoughts at one stage."

The procedure was a success and the four and a half year battle was over, bar a few side effects.

"I've still got three viruses sitting in my system that I just can't shake and my lung capacity has also been badly affected since the transplant," she said.

"We can't determine what's causing it but I'm on preventative medication, which is doing its job."

Ms McLean has now been in remission for 251 days and counting.

World Blood Cancer Day aims to support those with blood cancer. As someone who is almost overcoming it, Rowena McLean is a living inspiration.

"I hope my journey inspires people to give this disease hell," she said.

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"Don't let it take you over easily, fight for the ones you love and for yourself.

"I used to blame myself for getting this disease and that it was my fault I got sick. I felt like it was some sort of karma for all the bad things I ever did.

"However, no one asks for this and no one deserves it.

"The evil of this disease needs to revealed for all the hurt it causes."

Rowena McLean was heavily supported by the Leukaemia Foundation during her journey with blood cancer.

If you or someone you love is diagnosed with a blood cancer, reach out to the Leukaemia Foundation on 1800 620 420.

For more information about blood cancer, visit leukaemia.org.au.

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