Interview 07

Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma diagnosed in 1992 following a persistent sore throat that did not respond to antibiotics. Initial chemotherapy treatment did not work but further chemotherapy put him into remission.

He experienced bouts of rheumatoid arthritis in his thirties and forties, which went away following treatment. He developed a sore throat that persisted for about 3 months despite taking antibiotics. Blood tests and a biopsy revealed that he had a low grade non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. In retrospect he realised that he also had swollen lymph glands in his neck and had been experiencing night sweats. The lymphoma also caused an inflammation of the cornea called marginal keratitis, which went away after treatment with eye drops.

He was treated with chemotherapy, initially intravenously, then in tablet form, but the lymphoma persisted. Any work that he was able to do during this time he did in his own time as he often had to break off and rest – sometimes for 2 or 3 days – before starting again. He eventually gave up work because this kind of unreliability made him totally unemployable, and moved to another part of the country. His new GP did further blood tests and referred him for more chemotherapy, this time intravenous fludarabine, which succeeded in putting him into remission.

After chemotherapy he was prescribed methotrexate and steroids for his arthritis, which he continues to take, and also uses a herbal remedy for the pain. In 2005 he had a hip revision operation and afterwards fell and broke his leg below the prosthesis, with the result that he has been immobile for several months.

In place of the job hed had to give up, he learned how to sail, bought a boat, fitted it out and…

Age at interview 65

Gender Male

Age at diagnosis 52

Preferred to have needles put in his arm between his elbow and his wrist so bending his arm wasn…

Age at interview 65

Gender Male

Age at diagnosis 52

He takes vitamin C every day to avoid infection, phones his GP for antibiotics if he feels a sore…

Age at interview 65

Gender Male

Age at diagnosis 52

Delayed telling people as he thought he might lose business clients if they knew of his illness,…

Age at interview 65

Gender Male

Age at diagnosis 52

Sold his surveying business but continued to receive part of the fees from his old clients and…

Age at interview 65

Gender Male

Age at diagnosis 52