20 May 2025

Andi’s story: fitter now than than ever before

“I have to say I felt like a fraud the entire time. I’ve seen and read so much about people having so many side effects and complications. I’ve been so so lucky.” 

While many going through leukaemia treatment anticipate and endure a gruelling range of side effects, for some lucky ones chemotherapy proves to be kind. But despite an easy time physically Andi Cavilla acknowledges that the emotional side of such a devastating diagnosis can be tough.  

“Around October 2023 my wife Juliette, who’s the Wellbeing Manager for WH Smith, was running a wellbeing seminar online and the topic was cancer screening and how women get called for a number of regular screenings, but men don’t,” said Andi, now 54, who lives in Swindon and works as an IT systems manager. “During the seminar there was active encouragement for all middle-aged men to request a PSA blood test for prostate cancer and as my wife was running the seminar I felt obligated to book one!”  

Andi’s test came back negative but showed a low white blood cell count.  

“My neutrophil count was 0.2 – normal being somewhere between 2 and 7. They did a repeat test which showed the same, so I was referred to the haematology department at the Great Western Hospital in Swindon and given more tests including a bone marrow biopsy.” 

On 7th November 2023 Andi was given the shocking news he had acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). 

“It was a complete bolt out of the blue. I am a qualified Les Mills Body Combat fitness instructor and although I didn’t teach regularly anymore, I was still regularly participating in classes, as well as going to the gym. I had none of the common symptoms of AML I have since read about. I was actually leaping around in a fitness class the day before diagnosis. When I look back, I perhaps did feel that I had a little less bounce than I used to have – but I put this down to my age. 

“When the consultant dropped the bomb on me and told me there is an 80% mortality rate for AML… it didn’t really sink in. I immediately went into fight mode and wanted to know how soon treatment could begin and when it would be finished.” 

Andi was admitted to Dove Ward at the Great Western Hospital and began his first of what would be four rounds of chemotherapy in month-long cycles on 23rd November.  

“I was very lucky and my side effects were quite mild compared to some. It was more like a pretty bad hangover for a day after each session, loss of appetite and tiredness. I started to lose my hair in December – it was like having a dog in my room the amount of hair I was finding on the floor and on my bed!” 

Andi was given the confirmation that he was in remission at the end of his first round of chemotherapy in January 2024 which he describes as a “euphoric” moment. Doctors said that he may still need a stem cell transplant, but tests on his two sisters and a search through Anthony Nolan’s database revealed the bad news there were no 10/10 matches.   

“It was a worrying time. They said they’d carry on with the chemotherapy without a stem cell transplant for the time being. I did lots of research on it and knew it could have awful side effects and wasn’t a guaranteed anyway, which threw me a bit leaving me with more questions. But I just tried to focus on what was going on and how well I was doing.” 

Keeping active was a priority for Andi, who found an old fitness step in his garage and took it to hospital with him. 

“I tried to do ten minutes to half an hour on the stepper every day. I also decided not to watch too much TV and instead brought in crafts and jigsaw puzzles. They were big and needed setting up on my hospital bed, which forced me up and out of bed, and stopped me wallowing in my own thoughts.” 

At the end of the third chemotherapy cycle, Andi had had two consecutive bone marrow tests revealing no sign of his cancer. Doctors told him they felt confident in leaving aside the idea of a stem cell transplant as he was doing so well. Andi eventually finished his treatment and was sent home on 28th April 2024 on 12 months of Midostaurin chemotherapy tablets, with quarterly bone marrow and blood tests. 

“When I was given the tablets in hospital I heard one of the nurses say “they’re big, like small sausages”. So that’s what I call them. I gave all the medications a name. The first intravenous drug was Merlot as it was red, then the clear antibiotic liquid was gin and tonic! 

“I really couldn’t have asked for a better team of doctors and nurses in the Dove Ward. I felt they all went above and beyond to make my journey a comfortable one – and make the miracle happen. But I have to say I felt like a fraud the entire time. I’ve seen and read so much about people having so many side effects and complications. I’ve been so so lucky.

The consultant said it would be between three and six months before I would be back in the gym but when I got home I set up a rowing machine in the garage and was back at the gym in six weeks. I’ve got no proof my fitness helped my recovery but I believe it did. I’m actually now fitter than I’ve ever been as I’ve had so much time to work on it and I’m now the same size as my 19-year-old son Nico who’s an MMA cage fighter!” 

Andi chose to share his story publicly on his Facebook page from the start and was surprised at the impact it had. “I posted regular updates for my friends to see and was touched that so many shared how cancer had affected their or their loved ones’ lives. In fact two friends were diagnosed with other forms of cancer during my treatment – we supported each other through the journey and thankfully both, like me, are in remission.  

“I also managed to convince most of my male friends to get a PSA prostate check and several of my friends were also inspired to give blood donations for the first time!” 

Andi has continued in remission and remains focused on the end of his drug treatment as well as living life to the full.  

“My consultant cleared me to travel in December and since then I’ve been to Malta, on a surfing and yoga holiday in Morocco with my son, and a dream trip to the United States including visiting North Carolina and the desert national parks in Utah and Arizona, and doing part of Route 66. I’ve got trips lined up to Croatia and Ireland, and then a charity bike ride from Vietnam to Cambodia. And an Accelerated Freefall (AFF) sky diving day! 

“Of course I still have to come off the ‘small sausages’ in April and that will be a weird moment. We will find out if my body has forgotten how to make the cancer cells. It’s then 12 more months monitoring and aiming to get to two years remission.  

“In a way I feel I am still in denial about it all. Weirdly I did not give the 80% mortality a second thought until recently. But I realized my head is still pretty mixed up and perhaps confused about what my future is going look like – asking myself if I will make it past the five-year point. I’ve never done that before; I’ve only ever looked to the next milestone and concentrated on nailing it. 

“It also does feel like I am neglecting my duties as a husband and father and putting a strain on my relationships. My family were fantastic throughout my treatment regime. But I know my mental health has suffered a lot – probably more due to the solitary style of treatment in hospital and too much time to think about too many things. 

“Things have started to settle down into the new normal. Work is as stressful now as it ever was – but in a different way because the next hurdle to cross has been redundancy and now searching for a new job.  

“But most days I’m just focused on staying fit and making it past the final dose of Midosautrin – then on how to re-build my life in a positive way. I’m just not quite sure how or what that will look like.”