Jon M

Essential thrombocythaemia

I’m a 53 year old bloke from North London and I was diagnosed with essential thrombocythaemia about 16 years ago. Under the care of my consultant, I’ve been taking interferon alpha which to date has controlled my blood counts very effectively. At this point, I have a completely normal life, whatever that means. Numb on right…

Sally P

Essential thrombocythaemia

My name is Sally, I am 71 years of age and I have ET. I was diagnosed in 2008 following a routine blood test which showed an abnormally high platelet count. I was offered the choice of three hospitals to go to for specialist treatment and I chose one in Ashford, Kent because it could…

Janet W

Essential thrombocythaemia

I was flabbergasted when, in December 2013, I was diagnosed with essential thrombocythaemia. I had thought that I was perfectly healthy – in fact I had visited my doctor for the first time in four years with symptoms totally unrelated to essential thrombocythaemia. The doctor treated me and also decided that, as I was in…

Sharon L

Essential thrombocythaemia

Twelve years ago if you had asked me what E.T stood for I probably, like many others would have replied “A funny alien on a bicycle!” Like so many sufferers I had been unwell for a while, even as a nursing sister I did not recognise my symptoms. Endless night sweats were an early Menopause,…

David L

Myelofibrosis, Polycythaemia vera

I was first diagnosed with polycythemia vera when I was 46. I am now 74.The discovery of the disease was quite by accident, although I had not been feeling very well. I was due to have a minor operation and a blood test was taken. It was found that my blood was quite thick and…

Brenda B

Polycythaemia vera

2011 was nearly at an end and my thoughts were turning to Christmas shopping. I was considering just sending money or vouchers as the thought of Christmas shopping filled me with horror for once. I had been feeling unwell for some time and was in the midst of visiting and re-visiting my GP, to have…