History

• Public Awareness
• Professional Awareness
• Patient Education
• Research
  

We are dedicated to bringing lupus to the awareness of the public
Many patients, upon being diagnosed, will look  in an old medical book and read that lupus is a rare, fatal disease. Due to the general lack of awareness, most people do not know that nearly 90% of currently diagnosed lupus is considered controllable with proper treatment and education. We conduct an annual statewide lupus awareness campaign usually during “National Lupus Awareness Month” in October to inform people of such facts.

We promote professional awareness
Many doctors still consider lupus to be a rare disease. Our studies indicate that the average patient had symptoms three to ten years prior to diagnosis. Approximately 75 percent of the patients had been told or had it implied that they were chronic complainers.

Dr. Everett Rottenberg, a member of the Lupus Medical Advisory Board, has stated that “out of every three patients who die with lupus, approximately two deaths could have been avoided if currently known treatment were judiciously applied early on.” The Alliance sponsors medical symposiums for physicians and professional health care workers so that these professionals will consider lupus symptoms and early diagnosis of this disease.

Patient Education
A primary focus of the Lupus Alliance. Most patients feel the need for more information regarding their illness. Patients who understand their illness are better able to cooperate with treatment plans and have less anxiety – a known trigger for lupus flare-ups. There are eighteen sub-chapters and support groups, which hold educational meetings throughout the year. Speakers are usually doctors and other professionals that speak to the concerns of the lupus patient and their family.

Health Awareness
The Lupus Alliance sponsors an annual symposium, which is open to the general public as well as Awareness programs throughout the year. We have a well-developed patient education program that includes:

• Full-day workshops throughout the state
• Educational Literature covering many aspects of lupus
• Subsidized individual counseling programs
• Group support program
• An informative newsletter published twice a year
• National Newsletter distributed to our membership four times per year

Our Mission
To educate and support those affected by lupus and find the cure.

The Lupus Alliance is a self-supporting 501 c (3) non-profit organization.
We rely solely on our own fund-raising efforts and contributions from service organizations
and the general public.