In this vlogcast, Dr Jack Waldman shares his talk/presentation – Psychological Impact of MPNs – which he presented at the Patients’ Forum held in Inverness on Wednesday 3 September 2025.
In this talk, Dr Waldman discusses the psychological impacts of living with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN). He covers common emotions people experience after diagnosis, such as sadness, shock, anxiety, guilt, and frustration. He also explores how MPN affects daily life, including changes in function like fatigue, memory problems, and pain, as well as the impact on self-image and relationships.
Key themes include:
- Emotional challenges: Grief, shock, denial, anxiety, and uncertainty are common
- Changes in function: People may experience fatigue, brain fog, and difficulties in maintaining social or work roles
- Relationship impacts: The diagnosis can change family dynamics, roles, and intimacy, leading to tension or miscommunication
- Coping with uncertainty: Jack discusses strategies for managing worries, such as the “worry tree,” which helps identify what can or cannot be controlled
- Support options: Maggie’s Centres provide free cancer support across the UK, offering psychological help, peer groups, relaxation classes, and resources for patients and their families
Jack emphasizes the importance of seeking help and reaching out for support, not only for the individual diagnosed with MPN but also for family members who may also be overwhelmed. The discussion wraps up with a reminder that Maggie’s Centres are a valuable resource for anyone affected by cancer, providing both practical and emotional support.
In closing, Jack and Nona agree that managing the emotional and psychological impacts of living with MPN is a process that benefits from open communication and support systems, whether through professional resources or peer groups like the ones offered by MPN Voice.
We hope that you enjoyed this conversation, please send feedback and any questions to info@mpnvoice.org.uk. If you have any suggestions for future conversations please let us know.
We would like to thank Dr Waldman for taking part in this conversation with Nona.
Donate to MPN Voice – MPN Voice would not exist without donations, fundraising and grants, we are kindly asking everyone to be as generous as they can to help us support our ongoing projects supporting the MPN patient and healthcare communities. We would be very grateful for your support with a donation to MPN Voice which you can make via the MPN Voice JustGiving page, thank you.
