As Lupus Awareness Month Approaches... a Reminder for Early Diagnosis

LAKE OSWEGO, OR, April 25, 2012 (Press-News.org) Lupus is a devastating disease, the multitude of symptoms, the pain and suffering for those who have the disease, plus it's a challenge for the medical community to diagnose. Many times, someone with lupus will see upwards of 3 to 5 doctors before finally getting a correct diagnosis. And for many, a diagnosis will never come, and they will die with a disease they never knew existed. According to Molly's Fund Fighting Lupus - a Northwest based lupus awareness organization - lupus is one of the few diseases with a rising mortality rate. Only awareness, education, and faster diagnosis is the answer, and why throughout the country and in many states like Oregon - Lupus Awareness Month exists in May.

Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects over 1.4 million Americans (and 5 million world wide), whose symptoms include pain, rashes, and intense fatigue. In essence the body's anti-bodies attack tissues and organs causing intense damage and severe pain. No one in medical community fully understands this genetic "confusion" and only recently have new pharmaceuticals hit the market for the first time in 50 years.

Strangely, lupus primarily affects women, and women of color, and the science community is unsure as to why. Because of this, lupus can be a real challenge for women who aren't getting the care, treatment and diagnosis they need. Medicines are expensive, getting a lupus diagnosis can take time, and in most cases, those with lupus are in such pain with severe symptoms it leaves them unable to work, hence having no health insurance and few financial resources as well. It can be a vicious cycle and one that can lead to death. All of these hardships make getting treatment very, very difficult. Plus lupus is more common than muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, leukemia and cystic fibrosis combined...

Throughout the country, there are advocacy groups, and in the Northwest, Molly's Fund Fighting Lupus is the top organization fighting to create awareness, education and outreach. "Early diagnosis is a priority, the longer it takes, the more risk and the more pain an individual must endure. I had to visit more than 14 specialists to get lupus diagnosis, I've made it my priority to make sure others do not go through this," noted Molly McCabe, co-founder of Molly's Fund Fighting Lupus.

Additionally Molly's Fund Fighting Lupus has programs to help those with lupus navigate the challenging social security disability system, the health care systems and creating a network of referrals to physicians and clinics that understand the special needs of lupus patients. We encourage you to learn more about Molly's Fund, Voices of Lupus, and all the outreach this strong organization is conducting in the Northwest. Visit them at www.MollysFund.org and www.VoicesofLupus.com.

About Molly's Fund Fighting Lupus:
Molly's Fund Fighting Lupus is a lupus awareness nonprofit, whose mission is to educate the public and the medical community about lupus, to push for earlier, life-saving diagnoses for those afflicted, and to spur governments and foundations to fund research toward a cure.