Posts by: Dunstan Nicol-Wilson

As a sickle cell advocate, a key skill I’ve had to learn is patience. I need patience to listen, to understand, and to let go of negativity. Early in my ... Read more

January 10, 2022January 10, 2022

My Goals for This Year’s Sickle Cell Journey

Sickle Cell Disease News Columns

A new year often means a fresh start, with new goals, habits, and challenges. For the past few years, to help me better focus, I’ve been writing a list of ... Read more

January 3, 2022January 3, 2022

Taking Charge of My Healthcare During Routine Checkups

Sickle Cell Disease News Columns

As part of the U.K.’s National Health Service, it is common practice for sickle cell disease patients to have routine checkups with their hematologist. These routine checkups include collecting blood ... Read more

December 13, 2021December 13, 2021

Learning How to Say No With Sickle Cell

Sickle Cell Disease News Columns

At this stage in life, I know my body pretty well. I’ve gotten better at avoiding my triggers, which means I have fewer sickle cell crises than I used to. ... Read more

December 6, 2021December 6, 2021

The Tough Spanish Sickle Cell Lesson

Sickle Cell Disease News Columns

Once a sickle cell crisis surpasses my manageable pain threshold, it sadly becomes time for me to go to the hospital. Hospitalizations always fill me with despair and anxiety due ... Read more

November 29, 2021November 29, 2021

Tips for Preventing a Sickle Cell Crisis While Traveling

COVID-19 Columns, Sickle Cell Disease News Columns

Traveling is one of my greatest passions. I enjoy seeing new things and immersing myself in different cultures, especially through local cuisines. Living with sickle cell disease means I have ... Read more

November 22, 2021November 22, 2021

‘No One’s Listening’ to Sickle Cell Patients, and That Must Change

Sickle Cell Disease News Columns

The results of a government inquiry tasked with investigating the failures of sickle cell care in the U.K., published in a report titled “No One’s Listening,” reveal evidence of substandard ... Read more

November 15, 2021November 15, 2021

Finding a Balance Between Supporting Others and Protecting My Health

Sickle Cell Disease News Columns

As an adult, I’ve been privileged to have a small community of sickle cell patients that I can connect and share experiences with. As winter approaches here in the U.K., ... Read more

November 8, 2021November 8, 2021

I Want to Get Better at Predicting a Sickle Cell Crisis

Sickle Cell Disease News Columns

In the animated TV series, “One Piece,” a skill called Kenbunshoku Haki lets its users glimpse into the future, allowing them to dodge bullets and punches, and in some instances, ... Read more

November 1, 2021November 1, 2021

Does Living With Sickle Cell Get Any Easier?

Sickle Cell Disease News Columns

I was recently on a panel with fellow Sickle Cell Disease News columnist Tito Oye and other sickle cell patients, as part of a sickle cell-focused episode for the YouTube ... Read more

October 25, 2021October 25, 2021

Redefining Masculinity’s Core Traits With Sickle Cell Disease

Sickle Cell Disease News Columns

My therapist asked me, “What does it mean to you to be a ‘masculine man,’ and how does having sickle cell disease impact that meaning?” It’s a question I hadn’t ... Read more

October 18, 2021October 18, 2021

Telling My Employer About Sickle Cell Disease Was the Right Decision

COVID-19 Columns, Sickle Cell Disease News Columns

I didn’t reveal that I had sickle cell disease when I started my first job here in the U.K. As a new college graduate, and with the odds stacked against ... Read more

October 11, 2021October 11, 2021

One Small Step in the Fight Against Sickle Cell Disease

Sickle Cell Disease News Columns

The treatment Adakveo (crizanlizumab) has been made available in the U.K. as the first new therapy for sickle cell disease in over two decades. The aim of Adakveo, which will ... Read more

October 4, 2021October 4, 2021

We Must End the Stigma of Pain Medication for Sickle Cell Crises

Sickle Cell Disease News Columns

The pain from a sickle cell crisis is one of the most devastating things I have felt. It is unpredictable and can eat away at you physically, spiritually, and mentally. ... Read more

September 27, 2021September 27, 2021

‘Go Beyond, Plus Ultra!’: Surpassing the Limits of a Diagnosis

Sickle Cell Disease News Columns

I was recently diagnosed with avascular necrosis (AVN) in my knees. When the doctor called to tell me, I expected to be OK with it. I had read fellow Sickle ... Read more