In the next instalment of this groundbreaking series, Kate Garraway meets two more patients with everyday medical conditions, and together with Dr Guddi Singh, guides them on an interactive medical consultation to help understand their illness.
In tonight's episode, we meet Tina, an adventure-loving mother whose lifestyle has been seriously curtailed because of a problem in her spine, and Annabelle, who was pregnant when she found a lump in her breast.
Tina has always been young at heart, leading an active life and enjoying adventurous activities with her daughter Kirsty. But in the last year, Tina noticed a tingling in her arm which worsened into intense pain. Tina began to struggle with daily activities and was diagnosed with a spinal condition called ‘cervical spondylosis with myelopathy', which causes the spinal discs and joints to degenerate. It affects nine out of ten of us by the time we are 60. However, only one out ten of those will suffer a long-term issue like walking problems.
In our imaging centre, and with the help of her musculoskeletal radiologist Dr Dimitri Amiras, Tina is shown exactly what is happening in her spine. She faces a daunting choice as she sees just how serious her condition is.
Next, we meet Annabelle, a scientist and mother of three. Annabelle was eight months pregnant with her third child when she found a lump in her breast. Annabelle and her husband Grant were shocked to find out it was an aggressive type of breast cancer. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK, with 55,000 women diagnosed every year. The doctors wanted to start Annabelle's treatment as soon as possible, so the decision was made to induce and deliver Annabelle's baby and begin chemotherapy.
Arriving at our immersive imaging centre, Annabelle has finished that treatment, and together with her oncologist Dr Jean Abraham, she has come to see whether it has reduced the size of her tumour. Using her actual scans, we will show her the result in incredible 3D. But Annabelle knows her treatment journey has only begun as we follow her onto the next step: surgery.