“All through my life I’ve had care from the NHS, they have always been brilliant, and taking part in research has been my chance to give something back.”
So says Jean Leigh, who has just completed a two-year research study at Salford Royal into a new way of receiving her treatment for the rare and under-diagnosed condition acromegaly.
She says she’s not only been looked after ‘wonderfully well’ but that she’s enjoyed gaining more of an insight into the science behind the treatment, which inhibits growth hormone production to normal levels.
A benign tumour on Jean’s pituitary gland caused her acromegaly, in which the body produces too much growth hormone, causing body tissues and bones to grow more quickly. Over time, this leads to abnormally large hands and feet, and a wide range of other symptoms including joint pain, vision problems and skin changes. If left untreated it can cause type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, arthritis and bowel polyps.
After the removal of the adenoma tumour in 2000, Jean’s acromegaly was controlled with injections of a treatment to keep her growth hormone levels down, given every four weeks. Initially these were given at her GP surgery, but later her husband Peter was trained to give the injections – and he has also been involved in her research experience.
Endocrinologist Dr Tara Kearney invited Jean to join the study, which has tested the use of a new autoinjector to give the treatment at home. Jean says this device has been easier to use, and she’s also found taking part in the study straightforward and reassuring.
She explained: “It’s brilliant because they send a taxi when I need it and there were quite a few appointments initially, checking me out for absolutely everything, so I felt I was in safe hands.”
While Jean has been retired from her role at a local college for some years, she keeps busy and active, studying for A levels, playing Scrabble and attending an exercise class where she got involved in another research study, this time tracking her activity levels.
“I’d tell anybody offered the chance to take part in research to go for it,” she said. “It’s all about learning and that can only be a good thing.”