Elizabeth – Interview 09

Elizabeth was invited to take part in research into screening for previously unrecognised heart valve disease. She was delighted that her results were normal.

In 2010, Elizabeth was invited to take part in a research programme looking at a new screening method for detecting previously unrecognised disease of the heart valves. She was very keen to take part, as she thinks screening is a good idea. She herself continues to have breast screening every three years, after finding a lump (which turned out to be benign on that occasion). Her husband found he had an aortic aneurysm as a result of screening. He was monitored regularly and eventually told he should have an operation, which was successful. Elizabeth feels if it had not been for screening he might not be here today.

As a child living in India, Elizabeth was very ill and off school for a long time, and her mother says she remembers it being something to do with a heart valve. But since her mother is now 97 and there are no medical records from that time, she cannot be sure what the cause of her childhood illness was. So she went along to the heart valve screening half-expecting they might find something wrong, and was delighted to be told that her heart appeared to be completely normal.

Elizabeth was pleased that the appointment was in her local health centre, which made it very easy to take part. She felt the member of staff doing the screening was excellent, and that she was given good enough information at every step. This is consistent with her general experience of the health service which has always been very positive, although she has heard some examples of unsatisfactory care from other people.

She would recommend to anyone else invited to take part in such a research programme that they should say yes, and feels it may save lives if people discover some illness they did not know they had. She is supportive of medical research generally.

Elizabeth was very ill as a child in India. Her mother remembered it had something to do with a…

Age at interview 76

Gender Female

We were abroad at the time, we were in India when I was a little girl, so consequently my mum – I’ve spoken to her since, I mean she’s nearly 97 – but she really can’t remember the full details of it, unfortunately. But I remember I was off school for quite a while. And she seems to think that that was it.

She remembered when I asked her about this screening. So she said, Well yes, you definitely had something but as far as I can remember I think it was to do with a valve So consequently, as I say, I was really more than pleased. I’d never have thought of it before, you see, because I’m perfectly well, I hope, and healthy [laughs].

And so consequently it was a blessing in disguise, really, because it indicated there was nothing wrong.

Of course people with valve disease often are perfectly healthy and have no idea that there’s anything wrong.

Oh, of course, of course.

Can you remember what symptoms you had when you were off school or is it too long ago to remember?

No, very tired. As far as I know, I was very tired, I didn’t have very much energy, I was quite lethargic. But that’s as much as I can remember.

Gosh. Interesting. So there were extra reasons to go.

There was, there was. Very much so, yes, there was extra reasons.

And what, was that the main reason you went along?

Oh no, no, because I would have gone anyway. Yes.

When you say you would have gone would that have been mostly because of the health benefits to you?

Yes.

Right.

Yes, definitely. Mm, because I wouldn’t have even thought about it if it hadn’t come through, you know, the letter hadn’t come through. I wouldn’t have even dreamt of going, because it didn’t enter my mind [laughs] mm.

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Medical research is important and can save lives. Elizabeth would definitely be interested in…

Age at interview 76

Gender Female

What are your thoughts about medical research generally? Have you ever taken part in any other medical research?

No, I haven’t. But I think it’s a good thing. I think it should happen. And it’d probably save a lot of people’s lives and, you know, when they don’t know that there isn’t anything wrong with them, and there is, so obviously it would be a good thing.

And if you were offered another chance to take part in medical research would you be interested?

Definitely [laughs]. Definitely yes I would.

And did they say anything to you about whether they’d let you know what the results of the research overall are, when they find out?

I can’t remember that bit, whether she did or not. She did say there would be a follow-up. So obviously that must mean what you said, just a follow-up of everything, I would’ve thought.

Would you like to know what they find in the end?

Yes definitely [laughs]. Why not?

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The ultrasonographer was excellent, in Elizabeths view. The gel on her chest was a little cold…

Age at interview 76

Gender Female

And what was the actual screening like? Can you talk me through what she did?

Yes, she put lots of jelly on me and then set up the, what do you call it?

The screening?

The screening, yes, and went over me with it, a little bit cold. But it was perfectly all right. Yes, there were no problems.

Could you see the screen while she was

Yes, I could.

Ah-hah.

I could, which was very interesting, but not very knowledgeable to me [laughs] but it was very interesting and she was showing me different parts of it and talking me through it, which I found very interesting. And yes, it was, she was excellent.

And I think you have to strip to the waist
Yes, you do.

Is that all right with you, or?

Oh, perfectly all right with me. No, perfectly all right with me.

Because obviously they can’t do their screening if you don’t, so why worry?

I know it’s one of the things that they, they want to be sure that people feel they’ve been treated with dignity and–

Oh yes, she was–

privacy
–excellent, excellent. And then we went through it afterwards and everything was fine, which I was pleased about.

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Elizabeth’s husband took part in research into screening for aortic aneurysm and she believes it…

Age at interview 76

Gender Female

You mentioned that your husband had previously had screening for an aortic aneurysm and that that had been influential in your decision. Perhaps you could tell me about that.

Very much so. If it hadn’t been for that screening he wouldn’t be here today. Thank God.

How did he get in involved in that? Was it one of these companies that just offer screening?

It was, I think, the local health centre that asked him to take part and he said he would. And they scanned him over a period of six years, and the last time he went they said, Well, I’m sorry, but we suggest we may need to operate. You have to decide So he did. A very big operation it was too. But it was justified.

So that’s quite strongly influenced your feelings?

Oh definitely. I would take up any invitation to be involved, whatever it was, I would go. Regardless of the outcome.

Have you been for breast screening in the past?

Yes, I go regularly every three years.

Ah-hah.

Even now.

Oh right, you’re beyond the point at which you get called. You go off your own bat.

Yes. My doctor advised it and she said yes – because I’m quite lumpy as such, you know – and so obviously she advised that I go and get one every three years, which I do.

Are you, would you describe yourself as someone who normally is quite worried about your health or ..?

No [laughs]. No I’m not, not a bit [laughs]. Not a bit. Every time I go I’ve got a very good bill of health, you know, so I’m quite happy with that.

Has it made you feel differently with your husband having the aneurysm?

Oh yes, yes. I’d definitely go for every screening that came along. As I say, it was quite a shock when they said, you know, he had go into hospital and have the op. Because you just don’t think these things, do you?

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