News

Patients – and research partners

Peter de Waal, 58, is an administrator of pensionfunds at Unisys:
— I came to AMC 5 years ago after having been treated at my home hospital for years. They gave me more and more medicines but the disease only got worse. Due to the fact that I have herpes virus they didnt dare to treat me with anti-TNF. They were afraid that it would affect my immune defense system too much. After some time I was asked to participate in some studies and I said yes immediately.

To take part in a study means that you get more attention as a patient. And I really needed attention because I was getting worse fast. I could hardly get out of bed in the morning and I suffered from severe pain all the time. I still managed to work but daily life was becoming more and more difficult for me. I continued to participate in studies and after a third study I was offered biological therapy with rituximab(MabThera ®) by my doctor. This miraculous treatment has changed my life. I have a lot more energy, less swelling, almost no pain and I have even started to exercise a bit.

— So far I have got three biological treatments, last time was more than 9 months ago but the effects are still lasting. I go for check ups every third month and I really feel that I am in good hands. I try to be an active patient by reading about research results in the rheumatology field and I never miss the regular and very interesting meetings we have here at the AMC together with researchers and medical staff. By being an educated and active patient you get so much helpful information back. Now I know that I can do a lot myself to affect my disease and ease my symptoms and this has helped me to cope with the fact that I have a chronic disease.