People say only older people get it ... I was diagnosed at just 14
Beauty queen’s mission to raise awareness of rheumatoid arthritis
THE new Miss Tameside has got an important role to fulfill during her reign – raising awareness of rheumatoid arthritis.
Alexandra Taylor was diagnosed with the condition at the age of 14, having woken up one morning unable to walk.
Now 23, the actor from Ashtonunder-Lyne wants to break down misconceptions that the disorder is only found in older people.
After missing more than two years of school, she fought back to attend college and university.
Some days, the pain is so intense it leaves her bedridden. But she’s never allowed it to hold her back.
“It’s something not many people know about,” she said. “What I’ve been doing is trying to get across that it’s not something to be embarrassed about.
“When I used to tell people I’ve got arthritis people used to laugh at me because ‘it’s just what old people have’ and it’s not associated with a 14-yearold child.
“Getting that out there is important.” The condition causes the immune system, which usually fights infection, to attack the cells lining the joints, making them swollen, stiff and painful.
Alexandra, who is now treated at Tameside Hospital, has been given steroid injections for her condition, injected directly into the bone, and takes a drug used in chemotherapy.
Rheumatoid most commonly begins in middle age but can occur at any age.
Alexandra said: “I woke up one morning and I couldn’t get out of bed.
“I couldn’t walk and I didn’t walk for months. My foot swelled up, my knee swelled up. I had two places attacked at the same time and I just couldn’t walk.
“I was wiped out, sick all the time. It’s not just about the joints.
“Now I’m classed as being in remission. So it still hurts but I don’t get big flare-ups.
“My hair still falls out, I’ve got rashes everywhere.”
She continued: “None of my friends knew I had arthritis because I was a bit embarrassed to tell them.
“I still try to keep it to myself and I shouldn’t do, because there’s nothing wrong with it.
“It’s awful, but there are things that can be done about it.
“As soon as you get a diagnosis you can get the treatment and get better.”
The former pupil at Hartstead High, Stamford High and New Charter Academy started acting at the age of six with Oldham Theatre Workshop. She started the theatre company Last Women Standing and has TV work lined-up for the coming year.
Having been crowned Miss Tameside, she will now compete to become Miss England in April, from a public vote at the end of last year.