Northumberland teacher who went to GP with 'a bit of an ache' diagnosed with incurable blood cancer

Richard Sadler on his bike
-Credit: (Image: Myeloma UK / Richard Sadler)


An Allendale teacher went to his GP with a mild ache - and was devastated to discover he had an incurable form of blood cancer.

Richard Sadler, 60, has myeloma - a form of cancer which is treatable but not curable. He's already seen two rounds of treatment stop working and is now on an experimental clinical trial at the Freeman in Newcastle.

However, he told ChronicleLive how - despite his illness - he felt fit and "bright and breezy" much of the time, and he's now set to take on a London to Paris bike ride, alongside one of his consultants, for charity Myeloma UK. The senior medic is Prof Graham Jackson, who is chief scientific and clinical officer at the charity and has having worked as a cancer specialist in the North East for many years.

Richard, who has taught maths in the area for many years, said: "Back in 2021 I was diagnosed with myeloma. Graham and others prepared me for my first line of treatment. Treatment tends to start with a bone marrow transplant. I recovered quite well and my daughters and friends decided to do the Great North Run for charity.

"I was well enough to go and watch them. And I thought I would have to do something [for the charity] myself."

Richard Sadler with friends and family who took on the 2022 Great North Run for Myeloma UK and Blood Cancer UK in his honour
Richard Sadler with friends and family who took on the 2022 Great North Run for Myeloma UK and Blood Cancer UK in his honour -Credit:Myeloma UK / Richard Sadler

Unfortunately, what can happen with myeloma is that a treatment stops working - and for Richard this happened more quickly than he had hoped - so he was not able to take on the London to Paris cycle ride last year. This year though, he's feeling fitter and his treatment regiment is allowing him to take part - and he's looking forward to it.

He is on a clinical trial that is at the moment keeping the cancer at bay. He said; "It's working, but of course I know I have had two treatments stop working so far, so you never know."

Speaking while on a bike ride, he added: "One thing I do think is how lucky we are that we have a centre of excellence like the Freeman in the area. And [thanks to the staff there] I'm bright and breezy most of the time."

Richard, who lives in Catton in Northumberland, added the cycling challenge had helped focus his mind. "For me it's motivational," he said. "It gives you a sense of purpose."

Richard said he was particularly inspired by those he had met during his diagnosis and treatment - including the late "Santa binman" Craig Browell from Wideopen, who died in June.

Richard said seeing how Craig had died so young - and with three children aged between seven and 21 - meant he was determined to help raise money that the charity can then put towards potentially life-saving research and support. He added: "We became friends in the latter stages of his life as we were opposite each other for a hospital stay.

"His untimely death, leaving a young daughter and wife, gives me even more motivation to raise funds while I still can."

Previously, Prof Jackson has told ChronicleLive about the importance of supporting research into a cancer which can "sneak up on you". Ahead of the annual London-Paris cycle in 2022, the Gosforth-based haematology consultant said "Even now, if you ask most people about myeloma, they have no idea what type of cancer it is.

"It is also a very complicated disease, and when people are diagnosed, no matter how much time you spend with them in a clinic, they can come away confused. It’s a stressful time and it can be hard for people to take everything in."

Myeloma is the third most common kind of blood cancer - but symptoms such as back pain, easily broken bones, fatigue and infection are often mistakenly put down to minor conditions or simply ageing. This means that it can be very hard for medics to support - something Richard agreed with, as he reflected on how lucky he had been for his GP to spot it so quickly, adding: "I didn't even really think I was ill.

"I just thought it was a bit of an ache. I don't know what the GP saw, but thankfully they saw it."

The charity ride takes place from September 26 to September 30. To support Richard's fundraising, click here.

For more information about myeloma or to get in touch with Myeloma UK go to www.myeloma.org.uk. Myeloma UK runs an Infoline on 0800 980 3332.