Profiles

Here, you can find any of the interviews on this site.



Tom - Interview 14

Tom took part in a phase 2 trial of a new chemotherapy drug for lung cancer in 1993. Without the trial, the only other option at the time would have been palliative radiotherapy.

  • Background

    Tom is a retired engineer. He’s married with 2 adult sons. Ethnic background/nationality: White Scottish.

  • Age at interview 63
  • Sex/Gender Male
  • Kate - Interview 13

    Kate and her husband took part in a trial comparing injections of grass pollen antigen against a placebo as a way to reduce hay fever. Kate was in the experimental group and her husband in the placebo group.

  • Background

    Kate is Operations Director for a charity. She is married with no children. Ethnic background/nationality: White New Zealander.

  • Age at interview 38
  • Sex/Gender Female
  • Celia - Interview 12

    Celia took part in a randomised controlled trial comparing different periods of radiotherapy for lymphoma. She was would have preferred the shorter course; she was allocated to the longer course but took part anyway.

  • Background

    Celia is a retired health visitor. She is single. Ethnic background/nationality: White British.

  • Age at interview 67
  • Sex/Gender Female
  • Phil - Interview 11

    Phil took part in a trial of medication for high blood pressure and cholesterol. He had some side effects early on, so the medication was changed. He has been very happy with the care provided as part of the trial.

  • Background

    Phil is a retired post office worker. He is single. Ethnic background/nationality: White British.

  • Age at interview 58
  • Sex/Gender Male
  • Gill - Interview 10

    Gill discovered she had breast cancer in 2007. She would have liked to take part in a trial to help other women with breast cancer in future, but none was available.

  • Background

    Gill is a primary health care organisations coordinator. She is married with 2 children, aged 20 and 17. Ethnic background/nationality: White British.

  • Age at interview 54
  • Sex/Gender Female
  • Polly - Interview 09

    Polly was invited to be in a trial comparing tamoxifen against a placebo for breast cancer in the 1990s. She decided not to take part, because she felt there was already good evidence to support the use of tamoxifen.

  • Background

    Polly is a journalist. She is widowed, with 4 grown-up children. Ethnic background/nationality: White British.

  • Age at interview 61
  • Sex/Gender Female
  • Caroline - Interview 08

    Caroline's first baby was born by emergency caesarean. In her next pregnancy she took part in a trial comparing different types of information and decision aids about birth choices for women after a previous caesarean. She chose to attempt a natural birth.

  • Background

    Caroline used to work as a physiotherapist. She’s married with 2 children aged 5 and 2, to whom she’s now a full-time mother. Ethnic background/nationality: White British.

  • Age at interview 42
  • Sex/Gender Female
  • Harry - Interview 07

    Harry took part in a trial of medication for high blood pressure. He had some side effects early on, but otherwise has been very happy with his care and how well he feels.

  • Background

    Harry is a retired post office worker, widowed with 1 adult daughter. Ethnic background/nationality: White English.

  • Age at interview 83
  • Sex/Gender Male
  • Lester - Interview 06

    Lester's son Ellis died in 2001 of variant CJD. Lester later became involved as a lay chair of a trial looking at the effectiveness of a drug called quinacrine for people with variant CJD.

  • Background

    Lester is a business consultant. He is married with 1 adult son. His older son died in 2001. Ethnic background/nationality: White British.

  • Age at interview 59
  • Sex/Gender Male
  • Hazel - Interview 05

    Hazel learnt she had breast cancer (DCIS) after screening in 1991. After surgery she was asked to be in a trial comparing no further treatment with radiotherapy, tamoxifen, or radiotherapy and tamoxifen combined. She declined to take part. (You can see Hazel talking more about her experiences on the Healthtalkonline site on Breast cancer screening, Interview 17 & DCIS, Interview 26).

  • Background

    Hazel was formerly a company secretary, and is now an independent advocate for quality in research and healthcare. She is widowed with 2 grown-up children. Ethnic background/nationality: White British.

  • Age at interview 74
  • Sex/Gender Female