The month of May featured International Nurses’ Day – a celebration of the contributions and sacrifices made by nurses in the UK and around the world. Nurses’ Day is also an opportunity to raise awareness about the vital work nurses carry out on a daily basis, which is why I am delighted to be joined…
Last month, Charlotte, Jamie, and Brad ran the London Marathon in support of MPN Voice. These three amazing runners raised more than £8,000 and if you scroll back through the charity’s recent social media posts, you’ll see photos of each of them proudly wearing their medals over MPN Voice t-shirts. This incredible feat is just…
MPN Voice has launched a young patient network and on Sunday 2nd April we held our first virtual meeting! It was a fantastic event, and we were thrilled to see so many young patients attending from the UK and around the world. The main part of the meeting was a breakout session, facilitating discussion between…
If you follow MPN Voice on social media, you’ll have seen that the charity has recently announced the first of a series of patients’ forums taking place this year. In addition to the big ‘Living with MPNs Day’ held annually in London, MPN Voice runs a number of regional forums in different parts of the…
Living with an MPN means regular appointments with a haematology team for tests and check-ups. It can be daunting facing your first consultation. But even for patients who are frequent flyers, well-seasoned in what to expect, they can be stressful situations for you and your family. Whilst a doctor’s schedule is filled with back-to-back consultations,…
Basil is the name of my aunty’s labradoodle who came to stay with us last month while she was on holiday. I’ve always wanted a dog, so having Basil visit was really exciting and safe to say, I loved it. It was the first time Basil had stayed at our house, and I planned a…
September is blood cancer awareness month. To mark this important date, I wanted to shine a spotlight on the young people within the MPN community who each have their own story and journey to share. This month, I am therefore passing the blog baton to 12 young people from across the world who have very…
Managing an MPN at school, college or university Although we’re currently in the midst of the summer holiday, the arrival of August inevitably leads to thoughts of the new term starting in September. It won’t be long before we’re swapping flip-flops for school shoes, exchanging TV remotes for pencil cases, and replacing leisurely lie ins…
Fatigue is a common symptom of MPNs and can be a significant challenge for patients. In a leaflet entitled ‘Fighting Fatigue’, MPN Voice lists the many ways in which fatigue can be experienced, from a lack of energy and inability to do ‘everyday’ tasks through to difficulties in concentrating, thinking, and making decisions. Disruption to…
For some people, MPNs have a minimal impact on their everyday lives. For others, MPNs can cause daily and debilitating symptoms that are difficult to manage and cope with. For the latter, living with a chronic disease throws up numerous challenges and obstacles that can make life, work, and social activities more of a struggle.…