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Community Corner

Scleroderma Patient Educational Forum

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


 


Contact:     Mary Beth Bobik-Kadylak

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                     Director of Patient Education & Support


                     Scleroderma Foundation / Tri-State, Inc. Chapter

Find out what's happening in New Londonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.


                     mbbkadylak@scleroderma.org


                     (800) 867-0885


 


Who:           Scleroderma Foundation / Tri-State Chapter, Hartford Support Group/Backus Hospital


 


What:         Patient Educational Forum – a free, public educational forum is planned for William H. Backus Hospital, Norwich Outpatient Health Center


                     Featured Speakers/Topics:


      Harjinder S. Chowdhary, MD, Backus Arthritis Center:  Autoimmune Conditions:  What Are They and Why Do We Get Them?


                     William E. Traverse, MD, Saint Frances Care:  Raynaud’s Phenomenon


 


When:         Saturday, October 6, 2012, 12:30 PM - 4:00 PM


 


Where:       William W. Backus Hospital, Norwich Backus Outpatient Care Center
111 Salem Turnpike / Route 82
Norwich, CT  06360


 


For more information please use the contact information listed above.


 


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About Scleroderma


Scleroderma [sklair-uh-DERM-uh] is a chronic, often progressive, autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks its own body. With no known cause, scleroderma is a painful, life altering disease that can be fatal.  It can cause a thickening and tightening of the skin. In some cases, it causes serious damage to internal organs including the lungs, heart, kidneys, esophagus and gastrointestinal tract. As scarring, or sclerosis of these organs and organ systems progress, they work less effectively and can lead to organ failure and death. Some medications and treatments can help with certain symptoms, but there is no known cure for scleroderma.


 


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The disease affects about 300,000 people across the U.S. In comparison, approximately the same number of people are affected by multiple sclerosis.  There are an estimated 30,000 cases of scleroderma in Tri-State Chapter’s New York, New Jersey and Connecticut service area.


 


About the Scleroderma Foundation / Tri-State Inc., Chapter


The Scleroderma Foundation/Tri-State Inc., Chapter is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization serving New York, northern New Jersey and Connecticut. The chapter has a three-fold mission which is to promote the welfare of individuals and families affected by scleroderma, increase public awareness and support scleroderma research.


The organization helps scleroderma patients and their families cope with the disease through support group programs, educational forums, physician referrals and educational information such as articles, books and DVDs, available through our lending library and a growing number of videos online at www.sclerodermavideo.com. More about the work and mission of the Tri-State Chapter can be found at www.SclerodermaTriState.org and keep up-to-date on events and other happenings on Facebook (www.facebook.com/SFTriState) and on Twitter (@sclerodermaTS).


 


About the Scleroderma Foundation


The Danvers, Massachusetts-based Scleroderma Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to serving the interests of people with scleroderma. It has a network of 23 chapters and 168 support groups nationwide that carry out its three-fold mission of support, education and research.  The Scleroderma Foundation makes available at least $1 million in new research grants each year to find the cause and cure for scleroderma. More information about the Scleroderma Foundation can be found at www.scleroderma.org or by calling 800-722-HOPE (4673). You also can find the Foundation on Facebook (www.facebook.com/sclerodermaus) and Twitter (@scleroderma).


 


 


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