Tag Archive for: MPN second opinion

MPN Patient Q&A: How Did You Cope With the Initial Shock of an MPN Diagnosis?

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MPN Patient Q&A: How Did You Cope With the Initial Shock of an MPN Diagnosis? from Patient Empowerment Network on Vimeo.

 A myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) diagnosis can come as a shock to many. Watch as MPN patient Nona shares her feelings and reaction following her diagnosis, and health advocate Dr. Nicole Rochester explains about finding reliable MPN information.

This program provides one patient’s perspective. Please talk to your own doctor to make healthcare decisions that are right for you. 

See More from Best MPN Care No Matter Where You Live

Related Resources:

How Do I Best Communicate My Concerns Without Feeling Dismissed

 

Transcript:

Dr. Nicole Rochester:

I am always talking with people about the importance of using their voice, standing up for themselves and seeking information, and asking questions. So, with that, let’s go ahead and get to our questions, the first question comes from Susan, and Susan asks, “After the initial shock of your diagnosis, were you worried about limited treatment options and specialists, and then what was your next step?”

Nona Baker:

Was I worried? Well, I was just generally anxious, because it’s this thing of not being in control of one’s body and having to surrender that control to another person. So that’s the scary bit for me, and then I did something a little bit stupid in hindsight because it was the early days of the Internet, man, I did Dr. Google, not a good plan, because particularly in the very early days, there was some really, really sort of dreadful prognosis is almost sort of go from right, you will…which, of course, here I am, 30 years on. And so, I think that I would be very cautious even now in using Dr. Google, I would go to safe sites where they are medically monitored, because I think a little knowledge can be very dangerous.

Dr. Nicole Rochester:

That is so true. And I just want to highlight that because in medicine, we often kind of jokingly talk about Dr. Google, but it really is a phenomenon. And while there’s this balance of patients with rare diseases being able to find information and empower themselves, but then as you mentioned, known a lot of the information on the Internet has not been vetted, some of it is not scientifically accurate, and it can literally have you pulling your hair out as you read these accounts and start to really create more worry as opposed to creating action stuff. So, I appreciate you sharing that.  

My Journey of Living With a Myeloproliferative Neoplasm for 30 Years

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My Journey of Living With a Myeloproliferative Neoplasm for 30 Years from Patient Empowerment Network on Vimeo.

Myeloproliferative neoplasm patient Nona was shocked after diagnosis with two MPNs – essential thrombocythemia (ET) and polycythemia vera (PV) – at the age of 41. Watch as she shares her MPN patient journey over 30 years. Nona’s advice to other MPN patients, “Use your voice, you are not alone, make sure you establish a good relationship with your care team. You are truly your own best advocate!”

See More from Best MPN Care No Matter Where You Live

Related Resources:

 Expert Advice for Learning About Your MPNs Online

 MPN Caregivers: How to Provide Support During Appointments

Transcript:

Nona:

My name is Nona. I live in West Sussex, England. In 1991, I was diagnosed with essential thrombocythemia (ET) and then polycythemia vera (PV) in 1995, both myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN). This came as a big surprise to myself and my husband. At the time, my care team said there were only 12,000 known patients in the UK living with my condition. At the time of my diagnosis, I was 41 years old, a wife, and a busy mother to three children as well as having a part-time job.

Prior to my diagnosis (with symptoms of painful feet, ulcers on my toes, and chronic tiredness), I was seen by three different clinicians. One doctor told me that my blood work had suggested that I had an alcohol issue and that I was somehow in denial. That really scared me, as I hardly drink alcohol. My research led me to nowhere at the time, as there was very little information about MPNs available. At that point in time, they were called blood disorders. When I read the leaflet with the prescription medication, it referred to treatment for cancer.

I went back to my primary care physician as I really felt very frightened and confused. I learned that MPNs were a proliferation of the blood cells, but not cancer in the conventional sense of the word – in other words, a chronic treatable disorder. Having lived with an MPN for over 30 years hasn’t always been an easy journey. But over the years, a more accurate early diagnosis and treatments have progressed beyond belief, and for that I am grateful. I have never forgotten the difficult feelings of anxiety and fear when I was first diagnosed.

In 2005, I had a second opinion from a respected MPN expert who started a charity, now called MPNvoice. The mission is to provide up-to-date, accurate information to both the medical and patient communities. I have been fully involved with the charity since then and now serve as co-chair reaching out to patients around the world.

My advice to other MPN patients: it’s important to remember everyone’s MPN journey is different and some patients struggle with more symptoms than others. Don’t let your MPN become your life if you can just see it as part of your life so that you can get on and live your life. Use your voice, you are not alone. Make sure you establish a good relationship with your care team. You are truly your own best advocate.

These actions are key to staying on your path to empowerment.