SILVANA

I am Silvana, and I live in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. I’m 52 years old and was diagnosed with E.T December 19th 2011, about 3 weeks after I had a bone marrow biopsy. I have 2 children, a daughter and son. My other experience with a chronic condition was with asthma, which I was diagnosed with 1993/1994.

In 2003 I was hospitalized at the ICU for 3 weeks with Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) which included 2 weeks in a drug injured coma. After this I asked my complete medical file where I read that my doctors thought at that time i had MDS. However, I didn’t receive my diagnosis of ET until 2011. That’s why I believe I have been living with this long before I was diagnosed.

In December 2013 I was also diagnosed with papillairy thyroid cancer, stage 3. I had 2 surgerys to remove the whole thyroid and I had also twice the highest dose radio active iodine treatment. In May I heard the good news that I am thyroid cancer free! My next check up is November. About 2 months ago I had a minor stroke which caused my doctors to modify my regimine from aspirin to clopidogrel. In the past 6 weeks I have also been on Hydrea.

I am a fighter and don’t give up easily! On November 13th I am going to London (UK) to attend the ‘Living with MPN’ day!

It’s been a long time since being on a plan, and I am excited and a bit insecure to go all alone. I look forward to meeting others out there with MPN. I am also going for the 4th year in a row to the Dutch MPN day which is October 31st!