AcroTales
AcroTales
Dan Jeffries
AcroTales is a series of interviews with people living with Acromegaly - a rare condition caused by a benign tumour growth in the pituitary gland.If often takes 6-10 years for Acromegaly to be diagnosed and patients usually have a complicated journey to diagnosis. Acromegaly causes an excessive release of growth hormones which results in enlarged facial features, growth of hands and feet, changes in jaw and bone structures, loss of libido, visual problems and more. In each AcroTale, patient and advocate Dan Jeffries talks to acromegalics from around the world, discussing diagnosis, treatment and the effects on social and personal life.
Episode 27 - Paula
In Episode 27 of AcroTales, we meet Paula — born and bred in Durham, UK, now calling Toronto, Canada home. Paula's story is one of remarkable coincidences and profound life challenges, met with an inspiring stoicism and quiet positivity. A seasoned Ironman competitor, she has also faced her greatest challenge yet: sharing her journey with the world through her memoir, The Brain Tumour That Saved Me. In this engaging episode, we explore Paula's road to diagnosis, the management and treatment o...
May 4
32 min
Episode 26 - Matt
In this episode of AcroTales, we meet Matt from New York in the USA. Diagnosed with Acromegaly in 2022, Matt takes us beyond the physical symptoms and into territory many patients face but few openly discuss: the devastating impact on mental health and the relentless weight of anxiety. Matt strips away the usual cautious language and speaks with raw honesty about struggles that too often remain hidden in the shadows of chronic illness. It's a powerful reminder that healing isn't just physical.
Nov 26, 2025
35 min
Episode 25 - Sam
In Episode 25 of AcroTales we meet Sam, who is from Lincolnshire in the UK. Sam's story is one that shows how quickly pituitary conditions can develop and the sharp impact they have on our health. Within two years Sam has discovered a range of pituitary issues, not helped by the battle he has had to face with the healthcare system to get the tests and support he needs. Combine that with a job where literally millions of pounds are at stake should 'brain fog' kick in, and you have a tru...
Oct 29, 2025
29 min
AcroTales Special: Acromegaly UK Patient Engagement Day 2025
In September 2025, around 30 UK patients (and their families) met in London for a UK Patient Engagement Day. I set up the first UK Acromegaly Meetup in 2017 and we did them again in 2018 and 2019. Then COVID hit and we hadn't done one since. Thanks to The Pituitary Foundation and Camurus, we had the resources and support to develop a patient engagment day. And what a day it was. As always, the focus is on those living with acromegaly to have a chance to meet each other, share experience...
Sep 22, 2025
13 min
Episode 24 - Cas
In Episode 24 of AcroTales we meet Cas from Nevada in the USA. Cas's story really demonstrates the challenges faced when undergoing the 'diagnostic odyssey' in a search for answers. After experiencing a range of symptoms, Cas was finally diagnosed in 2019 - just before the COVID pandemic swept the globe. Yet Cas's resilience, positivity and humble nature means she has not let this condition define her.
Aug 29, 2025
31 min
Episode 23 - Jeremie
In Episode 23 of AcroTales we meet Jeremie from the Philippines. Jeremie's story is one of challenges, resilience and hope. Diagnosed with a tumour at just 19 years old - and right in the middle of Covid - he explains his journey to diagnosis, the treatments he received and how - through strength and adversity - he is taking ownership of his condition and is now a leading advocate for Acromegaly in the Philippines.
Jul 28, 2025
43 min
Episode 22 - Chrissy
In this episode of AcroTales we hear from Chrissy who lives in the Cotswolds in the UK. Chrissy is 44 and was diagnosed in 2013. Everyone's AcroTales is unique and comes with surprises, but there's no doubt that Chrissy's tale is one of the most jaw-dropping stories out there. Listen to the incredible way she received her diagnosis and how she has embraced life since treatment.
Sep 3, 2024
32 min
Episode 21 - Natalie
In Episode 21 of AcroTales we meet Natalie who is based in Buckinghamshire in the UK. Natalie's story is rather different in that she has elevate IGF-1, a micro adenoma yet her Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) is in range - and therefore has not yet received an official diagnosis. So what's it like living with the symptoms of a condition yet not knowing whether you actually have that condition or not? Natalie outlines this unique situation whilst considering what the present - and fu...
Aug 4, 2024
36 min
Episode 20 - Thomas
In Episode 20 of AcroTales we speak to Thomas from Switzerland. Thomas was diagnosed only a few months go and recently had surgery, so this is clearly very new and raw for him. He talks about the symptoms, diagnosis, his girlfriends desire to know everything about Acromegaly and how his approach was not quite the same.
Jun 3, 2024
32 min
Episode 19 - Roz
In Episode 19 of AcroTales we speak to Roz from Essex in the UK. Roz was diagnosed in 2005 after a succession of symptoms that had been present since her teens. Roz's journey has not been easy and had her third round of surgery only six weeks ago! (March 2024). However, Roz faces her Acro-challenge with a great sense of humour and is now a Volunteer Ambassador for The Pituitary Foundation, proving that every cloud has a silver lining. We also discuss how vital it is to have a co...
Apr 15, 2024
40 min
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