Raynauds Scleroderma Global Patients: Flashback Scleroderma Awareness Month 2017, Raynaud's, Autoimmune, Rare Disease

Flashback Scleroderma Awareness 2017

Last month, June, was Scleroderma Awareness month, with 29^th June being World Scleroderma Day.

And, WOW, what a busy month it was, for raising awareness of our multi complex, autoimmune, Rare Disease.

In this article I discuss the importance of raising awareness, along with the results of my patient profile global campaign and medical research.

Why raise awareness?

This is our opportunity to spotlight the entire scleroderma and Raynaud’s experience in all of its forms.

Whether that be from the symptoms experienced, to their management, as well as, the day to day reality, resulting from the disease process.

Having a rare disease forces you to become your own patient advocate.

As well as, it forces you to become your own medical expert in your diagnosis, along with, its optimum treatment and best management. Expert specialist centres are crucial to implement this.

For 2017, I focussed my awareness month campaign on patient profiles and research across the globe.

This highlighted the 3 common hallmarks for best practice, regardless of location.

Namely:

Early diagnosis

Expert specialist centres

Access to innovative medicines

At the end of Week 3, I discussed the current medical research landscape in relation to making progress to discovering the cause and cure of scleroderma and Raynaud’s.

The global patient profiles highlighted several current unmet clinical needs, showing that, although no two patients display the exact same set of symptoms, some similarities can be made.

I will be discussing these clinical unmet needs in more detail, in future articles.

My fingers and eyes are still protesting at the increase in computer / keyboard use over the course of the month, with several new lumps of calcium appearing at the tips, due to excessive use. Living the dream indeed!

calcium on the pressure pad of my little finger

Global interactions

Again, our friends over in Canada, showed the rest of the world how to raise awareness of scleroderma. Huge thanks to them, for all that they do, and continue to do:

The Niagara Falls in teal

On 29^th June, World Scleroderma Day, I was delighted to receive via the post, my ‘Me&Sclero’ goody bag – a total surprise and perfect timing!

A lovely bag, information leaflet, T-shirt and business card.

Huge thanks to Sarah, DAY 27, for her generosity and her tireless awareness raising, all year round.

I am very excited about Sarah’s scleroderma project, and I wish her all the success in the world, with raising awareness of our disease. Please support her fundraising efforts.

And Thank You to Sarah, for her generous donation to the Scleroderma Unit Just Giving Page.

USA based Scleroderma ResearchFoundation made a video, outlining the progress which has been made so far, over the last 30 years. As well as, they raised an amazing 1.4 million at the Cool Comedy Hot Cuisine event, held in LA on 16^th June. Thank You!

So, the rest of the year?

Huge thanks to USA patient Sharon Esposito for sharing her wonderful images for Scleroderma Awareness month. View more, here

As we know all too well, sadly, our true reality is that we live with this diagnosis 365 days of the year.

My 2016 Scleroderma Awareness Month campaign, focussed in more detail on the symptoms and body parts affected, with a flashback to my 2016 awareness, global efforts.

Our reality as a patient:

Each day brings along a variety of different symptoms which have to be respected and prioritised, in the hope to have the best day possible, given the diagnostic reality.

On some days, this means spending the day in bed.

All of the patient profiles showed, fatigue and tiredness, as constant companions.

Medical Research Progress:

5^th World Congress in Systemic Sclerosis, Bordeaux, France

The5th Systemic Sclerosis World Congress is due to take place Feb 15 – 17 2018 in Bordeaux, France next year.

This bi-annual event is the hub of the most up to date advancements in research, and current understanding of the entire scleroderma disease process.

Summary:

Overall, an improvement in the medical understanding as to the nature of the disease and its implications, has improved immensely, over the course of the last decade.

However, due to the multi complex body systems involved in the scleroderma, autoimmune disease process, research still falls way behind with providing an understanding as to the cause, and effective treatments, leading to a cure.

Thank You to everyone who took part in the patient profile campaign, as well as, Thank You to everyone for your support and encouragement throughout the campaign, sharing the same dream – a Scleroderma Free World.

INDEX Scleroderma Awareness Campaign Patient Profiles 2017

Please DONATE to help fund medical research at The Scleroderma Unit, The Royal Free Hospital, London where 100% of all of your monies will be used for medical research purposes only. Thank You.

Living the dream, hoping for a cure

#SclerodermaFreeWorld #RaynaudsFreeWorld

#RareDisease #Hope #Belief

Follow Raynauds Scleroderma Awareness Global Patients Facebook Page for latest updates

An edited version of this article was published here, in my Column with Scleroderma News.
July 2017.

To read my articles:

Rare Disease Day 2018, Research - Taking Part in Clinical Trials, Click here

March Autoimmune Disease Awareness Month 2018, Click here

Global patient video, Click here

Becoming a Patient Research Ambassador for the NIHR, Click here

If we only had more RESEARCH investment for Scleroderma, Raynaud's, Autoimmune Rare Disease, Click here

The Importance of Medical Research and Awareness to the Scleroderma, Raynaud's, Autoimmune Rare Disease patient, Click here

Scleroderma Awareness Month 2017 Patient Profiles Campaign, Click here

Scleroderma Awareness Month 2017 Patient Profiles Campaign Patient Index, Click here

The Pandora’s Box of the rare autoimmune disease Scleroderma, Raynaud's and Cancer, Click here

Key Event Dates 2018, Click here

Importance of an Early Diagnosis, Click here

Taking Part in Clinical Research Trials, Click here

The Importance of a Multi Disciplinary Medical ‘Dream Team’, Click here

Expert Specialist Centres, Click here

My Skin is Cured from Scleroderma, Click here

UK Guidelines for Managing and Treating Scleroderma, Click here

Fatigue, Click here

Mobility, Click here

Diet and nutrition, Click here

Raynaud's, Click here

World Scleroderma Day 29^th June 2016, Click here

World Scleroderma Day 29^th June 2017, Click here

Why Global Collaboration is important to the Rare Disease Patient, Click here

RARE DISEASE DAY:

The theme to this years Rare Disease Day is Research

Rare Disease Day 2018 – Research, Taking Part in Clinical Trials. Scleroderma, Raynaud's, Autoimmune Rare Disease, Click here

2016 Rare Disease Day Patient Voice

2016 Rare Disease UK Parliamentary Reception

2017 Rare Disease Day Flashback

2017 Rare Disease Day unmet clinical needs to the scleroderma patient

Rare Disease Day is a fantastic opportunity for the entire rare disease community to shine a spotlight on their reality, combining as one unified voice. Where, at least one commonality presides –

Medical Research provides the brightest light

for the illumination of the rare disease patients’ plight.

I highlighted other areas of medical research interest within Week 3 of my Patient Profiles Campaign for Scleroderma Awareness Month 2017.

VIDEO

INDEX

Although rare disease patients are few in number, eg. 2.5 million scleroderma patients worldwide, (the World Scleroderma Foundation), the commonalities and golden hallmark for each rare disease patient are the same:

Early Diagnosis

Expert Specialist Centres

Access to Innovative Medicines

Where MEDICAL RESEARCH investment is VITAL.

Research is the key. Abstracts from 2016 World Congress, Click here

Scleroderma Awareness Month Campaign 2016, Click here

Links

View video, here

Preamble - here

The Family Day at the Scleroderma Unit, The Royal Free Hospital is taking place on the 19^th May 2018. Browse the program, here

This year, I am celebrating 20 years of being a patient at this world leading expert specialist research centre.

Sept 2017

I am eternally grateful to the global scleroderma trail blazers Dame Prof Black and Prof Chris Denton, whose commitment and dedication to unlocking the scleroderma enigma, is nothing other than, superhuman.

I am truly humbled and inspired by their work ethic. I am wholly appreciative for Prof Denton’s continued medical expertise and support, especially during my barrister qualifying years, 1997 - 2004.

1^st March 2004, I qualified as a self employed practising barrister. Further to having been told in 1997, by my diagnosing doctor, that I was looking at a 15month prognosis.

I very much hope to utilise my professional skills and qualifications along with my patient experience, to help achieve the #SclerodermaFreeWorld dream, hoping to improve understanding and best practice, in the meantime.

For latest updates follow: