Jayne Hardman, 56, from Redditch, Worcestershire, lost her nose to vasculitis after her dog CeCe headbutted her in 2012. The collision caused swelling and blockage, and two years later she was diagnosed with ANCA-positive vasculitis, a condition where the immune system attacks blood vessels. Chemotherapy eventually led to her nose collapsing entirely, leaving her reliant on a prosthetic.
Diagnosis and treatment
Jayne sought help for a bleeding and swollen nose, but doctors were initially baffled. A specialist eventually tested her blood for autoimmune disease. She started chemotherapy to manage the effects and can now smell and taste again. She remains on medication and receives chemotherapy every six months to keep the disease in remission.
Living with a prosthetic
Jayne has been fitted with a prosthetic nose and appeared on This Morning to share her story. She says: "I'm proud to wear my nose. I do in the winter try to keep warmer as it sometimes does drip if it's very cold which actually always makes me smile." She notes that polo necks or tight clothing can flip it off, which makes her laugh.
Raising awareness
Jayne believes her experience has helped shape changes in vasculitis management guidelines. She raises awareness for Vasculitis UK and says: "I genuinely think my dog saved my life. Dogs can smell Parkinson's and cancer and I think she could smell it." She also had grommets fitted, resolving her hearing problems, but still experiences chronic dry eye from the disease.
Jayne added: "I'm still on medication and likely to be forever. Some people do get to medication free remission but that's unlikely for me. I am passionate about raising awareness as most GPs will not see a case of vasculitis and had I been given a blood test at my first ever appointment, I would possibly still have a nose."
