“Adapt, improvise and overcome.” — PatientsLikeMe member Dana shares her experience for Sjögren’s Awareness Month

In honor of Sjögren’s Awareness Month, we connected with PatientsLikeMe member Dana, a New Jersey-based poet and screenplay writer who was recently diagnosed. This isn’t the first time we’ve interviewed Dana — she was a member of our 2014 Team of Advisors! Here, Dana talks about the daily challenges of living with Sjögren’s, an autoimmune… Continue reading “Adapt, improvise and overcome.” — PatientsLikeMe member Dana shares her experience for Sjögren’s Awareness Month

“We are the ones that know what is required to give us the care we deserve” — Member Ann shares her story for Rare Disease Day

 February 29 only comes around every four years – and this year, it’s extra special: Today marks the 9th annual Rare Disease Day. In the United States, a disease is considered rare if it affects less than 200,000 people at any given time.1  This year’s theme is all about elevating the patient voice, so we caught up with… Continue reading “We are the ones that know what is required to give us the care we deserve” — Member Ann shares her story for Rare Disease Day

National Donor Day: Changing lives on both sides

“Be Mine.” It’s the mantra of Valentine’s Day, but today we’re honoring those who’ve said, “Have mine.” February 14 is also National Donor Day, and it’s all about recognizing the most precious valentine of all: the gift of life. For every organ, tissue, marrow, platelet and blood donation, there are two sides to the story.… Continue reading National Donor Day: Changing lives on both sides

We can. I can. Start talking about cancer.

Every February 4, all corners of the world unite in the fight against cancer on World Cancer Day (WCD). What’s the purpose? To get as many people around the globe talking about a disease that continues to claim 8.2 million lives every year.[1] How can you get involved? Every action counts and the more people… Continue reading We can. I can. Start talking about cancer.

Rheumatoid Awareness Day: 7 things you might not know about RA

Today is Rheumatoid Awareness Day, and we’re spreading the word about the condition that affects over 9,000 PatientsLikeMe members. Rheumatoid disease can manifest in many different ways – fatigue, joint pain, stiffness and fever, to name a few — so it can be hard to understand the full scope of this condition. To show the… Continue reading Rheumatoid Awareness Day: 7 things you might not know about RA

“I had no idea that my thyroid controls so much” — PatientsLikeMe member Barbara shares her experience for Thyroid Awareness Month

January is Thyroid Awareness Month. So, how much do you know about the small, butterfly-shaped gland that influences the way your heart, brain, liver, kidneys and skin function? To help spread #thyroidawareness, we asked member Barbara to tell us about living with thyroid cancer and hypothyroidism, a condition that affects over 6,000 PatientsLikeMe members. Barbara… Continue reading “I had no idea that my thyroid controls so much” — PatientsLikeMe member Barbara shares her experience for Thyroid Awareness Month

Crohn’s & Colitis Awareness Week: Are you #IBDAware?

Image courtesy of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America This week (12/1 through 12/7) is Crohn’s & Colitis Awareness Week. The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) wants to know what awareness means to you, asking, “Are you #IBDAware?” Crohns disease and ulcerative colitis, collectively known as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), affect 1.6… Continue reading Crohn’s & Colitis Awareness Week: Are you #IBDAware?

World Diabetes Day: Act today to change tomorrow

Diabetes affects almost 400 million adults[1] around the world and contributes to nearly 5 million annual deaths[2]. November is American Diabetes Month, but on November 14, the entire world joins together to unite their voices against this disease on World Diabetes Day (WDD). It was started back in 1991 by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF).… Continue reading World Diabetes Day: Act today to change tomorrow

Epilepsy Awareness Month: The value in helping others

It’s November, which means it’s Epilepsy Awareness Month. During our #NotAlone campaign, we shared how PatientsLikeMe member Letitia’s experience on the site helped her feel less alone in living with epilepsy. Letitia (Letitia81), a member of our 2014-2015 Team of Advisors, explains: “I enjoyed connecting with others suffering from seizures and exchanged ideas about diagnostic… Continue reading Epilepsy Awareness Month: The value in helping others

Shining a light on lung cancer

What began as one awareness day back in November of 1995 has grown into Lung Cancer Awareness Month, now in its 20th year, as the lung cancer movement expanded and activities increased. Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in both men and women, but is the leading cause of cancer death in the… Continue reading Shining a light on lung cancer