I can say with certainty that I have never paid any attention to the issue of early prevention, genetic testing and regular check-ups. I even ignored some check-ups because I am a young, healthy woman, an athlete, and the last time I saw a doctor was two years ago.
As Told by the Client
I first questioned my own health when a close friend and colleague told me she had been diagnosed with a hereditary neurological disease. We were all shocked because she is also very young and we have been playing sports together since high school.
Petra had been experiencing subtle but persistent symptoms for a long time, which she initially ignored. Gradually, unexplainable fatigue set in, which she initially attributed to stress at work and excessive physical exertion (we were training for a half marathon together).As the symptoms worsened, she sought medical help.After a series of examinations, she heard a diagnosis that virtually no one in her life would ever contemplate.
This revelation made us even more confused, and I marveled at how Petra was managing with her ailments. But what inspired me the most was how she doesn’t give up and adapts her lifestyle to function with as few restrictions as possible, to enjoy an active life as much as she can, while also doing everything she can to make her treatment effective and to keep the disease under control.
This has encouraged me to take an active interest in my own health. I am determined to take control of my health and quality of life, and I am not going to let an adverse outcome prevent me from doing so.
Other stories
The story of Boris
“I am quite an informed older man, but I want to be able to make decisions about my health and work together with doctors.”
The story of Peter
“I had been thinking about getting genetic testing for a while, but it was a tough decision. On the one hand, there was the worry about what the result might be, and on the other hand, there had been a lot of serious illnesses in our family recently.”
The story of Mirek
“My journey to genetic testing began when I experienced unusual symptoms that worried me. I had always felt healthy.”
