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On anti-TNF therapy; Cimzia and on medication for breathlessness. She attributes her breathing difficulties to another RA drug, methotrexate. Christinesays that living with RA is not her main health issue, but breathing problems do affect her physically and sometimes emotionally.
Married, with two grown up daughters and retired. Christine stressed that the care she has received from her rheumatology hospital is ‘second to none’ in terms of efficiency, medical care...
Sandra was diagnosed in April 2010 and her current rheumatoid arthritis treatment includes Cimzia (certolizumab pegol), Methrotrexate, Sulfasalazine and Hydrochloroquine. Sandra's consultant talked to her about reducing and eventually phasing out the last two drugs. She also takes painkillers; Diclofenac and Co-Codamol and Amitriptyline at night time.
Sandra is a nurse and until her diagnosis worked full-time. Her initial treatment was not controlling her rheumatoid arthritis so she had to go part-time. She is divorced and has...
Pearl was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in 1991, aged forty and was put on methotrexate. Eighteen months ago and initially as part of a clinical trial, she started to take a newer anti-TNF therapy; Simponi. Her current treatment also includes methrotrexate, but in a smaller dosage.
Pearl is married with two grown up sons and a grandchild. She is a retired bank clerk. She had to take early retirement due to rheumatoid arthritis. Ethnic background’ White...
In 2008, aged 21 Emma was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Currently, she is on a combination therapy that includes Sulfasalazine, Methotrexate and Naproxen as a painkiller and a new biological drug called Cimzia (certolizumab pegol). The plan is to eventually reduce her RA medication to Methotraxate and Cimzia only.
Emma lives with her partner. She is a nurse and does full-time shift work in a hospital ward. Her feet and knees have been affected by RA but since starting...
Linda was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in April 2010 and she is currently taking part in a clinical trial for Golimumab. This therapy, has significantly improved Linda's quality of life. She no longer has flares ups that had previously affected her working life. She is awaiting a decision from her PCT as to whether they will pay for her to continue having this treatment.
Linda is divorced and has a 19 years old daughter who is in her first year at university. Linda is a civil servant and works full-time. Ethnic background’ British.
Pat was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis aged 25 but it took almost three years and a progressive deterioration of her symptoms for her to get an appropriate treatment. Her disease has remained active and to date she has had ten operations and four implants. Pat participated in a clinical trial for a newer drug called Golimumab (Simponi) but the therapy failed to improve or control her rheumatoid arthritis. She is due to start another biological therapy; Rituximab.
Pat is married and has two daughters aged 29 and 20 and no longer living at home. Pat is a housewife and does two hours a week of voluntary work...
In June 2010 Chris was diagnosed with rectal cancer. He had surgery, a low anterior resection of his bowel and an ileostomy. Surgery was soon followed by chemotherapy, which he has nearly finished. He hopes to have the ileostomy reversed soon.
Chris is a clinical trial manager. He is married and has three children. Ethnic background/nationality: White British.
John's problematic urination led to a PSA test and DRE. A trans-rectal biopsy detected cancer and he decided to have brachytherapy but a later trans-perineal biopsy indicated more advanced cancer and he then had a robotic laparoscopic prostatectomy. He later had a 'male sling' to treat his incontinence.
John is a married writer with one adult child and his ethnic background is White British.
Stephen had excruciating back pain which was dismissed as simply a back problem by his GP. Months later a hospital doctor arranged an x-ray and this and other tests resulted in diagnosis of prostate cancer metastasized to bones in November 2009. He has had radiotherapy and hormone treatment.
Stephen is a retired government lawyer, with male partner and one adult son. Ethnic background is White British.
After suffering several symptoms of problematic urination Richard spoke to his GP who suggested a PSA test. On the results of this he had a biopsy which led to a diagnosis of prostate cancer in March 2005. He had a prostatectomy in July 2005.
Richard is a telecoms engineer, married with one child. Ethnic background is African-Caribbean.
