Image is from Scleroderma Foundation
There are many awareness months you may observe, and one of these is National Scleroderma Awareness Month. This is observed every month of June and is usually led by organizations such as the Scleroderma Foundation. The month-long awareness campaign can be participated not only by scleroderma patients, but also by anyone who wishes to help.
What Is Scleroderma?
Scleroderma is a skin disease which makes it impossible for patients to move some parts of their body like hands, feet, neck, and so on. Sclero means “hard” and derma means “skin,” so scleroderma is the hardening of skin similar with leprosy, but different in a way that it does not decay. However, the disease stays forever as there is still no permanent cure for it.
So far, it’s not clear what causes scleroderma. It just appears to anyone without any signs. Moreover, many people wouldn’t know what kind of disease it is because it comes on suddenly. You will just find yourself unable to move your fingers, as though there is an outside force stopping you from moving them.
More and more people are suffering from scleroderma. Even so, this is still considered a rare disease. It is so rare that even some doctors are not familiar with it.
The problem with scleroderma is that it does not only attack the skin outside, but also inside our body, and such condition may affect our internal organs such as digestive system, kidneys, and even the heart.
Why is there a Campaign if the Disease is Rare?
It’s true that scleroderma is a very rare disease; however, the number of such cases is ever increasing. In the United States, there are 240 cases of scleroderma for every 1 million in the population, and while this number seems small, the disease should be recognized.
Although there are some studies being conducted to discover the cure for it, researchers find it difficult to gather information because of the lack of sources such as patient history and testimonials. This means that even some people who already suffer from scleroderma are not aware they already have it.
This is why there is a month-long awareness campaign that needs to be observed every month of June in order to encourage patients to share their experience and collaborate with organizations that propagate information about scleroderma.
If you don’t suffer from scleroderma, you can participate in the campaign to help others. You can learn about this disease and teach others about it, too. The information about scleroderma may be limited, but getting more people involved in this awareness campaign can surely contribute a lot in gathering more information.
What Is for Scleroderma Patients?
People who suffer from scleroderma feel helpless because of their condition, and need community support. If you are a scleroderma patient, you can’t go solo, as you need the help of others as it’s not good to feel isolated.
National Scleroderma Awareness Month is the best chance for you to meet other people with the same condition. In this way, you can share experience among one another and boost your confidence to move on with life. Moreover, scleroderma patients may get updates about the latest in scleroderma research, medicine, or technology.
Scleroderma is not a new disease as it so happens that this disease is unknown to many. This is why there is a need for awareness month such as National Scleroderma Awareness Month in order to educate many people about it.