Patients as Partners: Cyrena on connecting through social media

Earlier this month, Team of Advisors member Cyrena shared how she relies on many of the Partnership Principles in her interactions with her physicians. Today, she offers some insight into a different type of relationship in our health journeys — the ones we have on social media. In addition to PatientsLikeMe, Cyrena is active on… Continue reading Patients as Partners: Cyrena on connecting through social media

Patients as Partners: Cyrena talks empathy and assertiveness

We’ve been talking to 2015-2016 Team of Advisors about the Partnership Principles they put together and how they use them in their personal health journeys. Next up is Cyrena, who’s living with bipolar II and lupus and recently completed her PhD in pharmacology. Below, she talks about managing multiple conditions, getting on the same page… Continue reading Patients as Partners: Cyrena talks empathy and assertiveness

Meet Cyrena from the PatientsLikeMe Team of Advisors

  Say hello to Cyrena, another member of your 2015-2016 Team of Advisors. Cyrena is living with bipolar II and lupus, and currently a PhD candidate in pharmacology. Cyrena describes some days with her conditions as “swimming through a vat of molasses” — which makes managing her intensive student workload along with her health a… Continue reading Meet Cyrena from the PatientsLikeMe Team of Advisors

PatientsLikeMe Names 2015-2016 Team of Advisors, Sets Focus on Redefining Patient Partnerships

Cambridge, MA, October 19, 2015—PatientsLikeMe has named 14 members to its patient-only 2015–2016 Team of Advisors and challenged them to work through an issue that’s central to everyone in the healthcare system: how to redefine patient partnerships. The team will be focused on rethinking what it means for patients to be partners, and on establishing… Continue reading PatientsLikeMe Names 2015-2016 Team of Advisors, Sets Focus on Redefining Patient Partnerships

Arthritis Awareness 101

You may have heard that arthritis affects the joints, but did you know that it’s an umbrella term used to describe over 100 medical conditions and diseases (known as rheumatic diseases)?1 Conditions that fall underneath forms of “arthritis” include rheumatoid arthritis, gout, lupus, and fibromyalgia. And the symptoms can vary depending on the type of arthritis and the person… Continue reading Arthritis Awareness 101

Putting on purple for lupus awareness

If you’ve got something purple to wear, today’s your day – the Lupus Foundation of America (LFA) is encouraging everyone to “Put on Purple” to help raise awareness for lupus. Lupus is an autoimmune disorder that affects millions of people worldwide, and the majority of these patients are women. Common symptoms include extreme fatigue, swollen… Continue reading Putting on purple for lupus awareness

Bruce Cooper and Ed Godber talk about the AstraZeneca/PatientsLikeMe partnership

AstraZeneca and PatientsLikeMe announced today that they’re working together to use patient-reported data to shape future medicines and help improve patient outcomes. While it focuses on an initial set of four therapeutic areas (lupus, respiratory diseases, oncology and diabetes) the partnership signals a significant step forward for patients worldwide. Bruce Cooper, AstraZeneca’s Senior Vice President,… Continue reading Bruce Cooper and Ed Godber talk about the AstraZeneca/PatientsLikeMe partnership

Spreading the word for arthritis

Lupus? Check. Fibromyalgia and ME/CFS? Check. ALS, cystic fibrosis, Huntington’s disease, mental health, schizophrenia, anxiety and depression? Check! There’s been a ton of awareness going on in May, but there’s still one more theme to go – National Arthritis Awareness Month. This month, the Arthritis Foundation (AF) is encouraging us all to spread the word to… Continue reading Spreading the word for arthritis

Taking action for lupus awareness in May

If you think you look good in purple, you’re in luck – today is Put on Purple Day, sponsored by the Lupus Foundation of America. As part of the greater Lupus Awareness (Action!) Month in May, today is your chance to make lupus visible and learn about the effects of this chronic inflammatory condition. Lupus… Continue reading Taking action for lupus awareness in May

“Band together for lupus awareness”

Lupus awareness has been observed since 1977. It was originally just one week in September. It’s since moved to October and now finally to May. And while the month may have changed, the message has always been the same; “raises awareness, secure funds and support those who are suffering” from this chronic inflammatory disorder.  … Continue reading “Band together for lupus awareness”