Page 79 - Women’s Yellow Pages (FlipBook)

LUPUS FOUNDATION OF PENNSYLVANIA

Website - www.lupuspa.org
Mission Statement
To promote awareness, education, service and research for those
affected by lupus.
The Campaign for Women’s Health is a coalition of Lupus is a chronic, inflammatory disease that can affect any and/or
organizations and individuals calling for an end to ideological all parts of the body. In this autoimmune disease, the healthy tissues
are attacked by an immune system that has gone awry. Also known
politics trumping common-sense policy solutions in as Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, there is currently no know cause
Pennsylvania. or cure for it. BUT there is treatment.
www.pa4womenshealth.org Lupus may occur in males or females at any age, but young women
between the ages of 15 and 45 are most likely to develop it. Afri-
THE CENTER FOR HEARING & DEAF SERVICES can American, Hispanic, Asian and Native American women have
the greatest incidence. Between 1.4 to 2 million people have been
HDS Westmoreland Center for Hearing & Deaf diagnosed with lupus the United States. Lupus can be difficult to
1011 Old Salem Road Services, Inc. diagnose because the symptoms can come and go and often mimic
Suite 102 1945 Fifth Avenue other illnesses.
Greensburg, PA 15601-1034 Pittsburgh, PA 15219-5543 Symptoms include:
Phone: (724) 832-7601 Phone: (412) 281-1375 • Chronic achy and/or swollen joints
(voice/tty) (voice/tty) • Unexplained low grade fevers
Fax: (724) 832-7602 Fax: (412) 281-6564 • Prolonged or extreme fatigue
• Skin rashes
CENTER FOR ORGAN RECOVERY • Anemia (low red or white blood count or platelet count)
• Kidney problems
& EDUCATION • Chest pain on deep breathing (pleurisy)
• Sensitivity to the sun
The Center for Organ Recovery & Education (CORE) is one of 58
federally designated not-for-profit organ procurement organiza- • Hair loss
tions (OPO) in the United States. • Mouth or nose ulcers
In addition to supporting families during the grieving process and • Sensitivity of fingers or toes to the cold
talking with them about the opportunity to donate, the agency also Although lupus can range from mild to life threatening, the majority of
notifies the organ transplant team and coordinates the surgical case can be controlled with proper treatments
recovery of organs, tissue and eyes. CORE also is responsible
for facilitating the computerized matching of donated organs and
placement corneas.
OVARIAN CANCER RISK FACTORS
Each of the 155 hospitals in CORE’s designated region serves
as a referral site for potential donors. Five of those hospitals also Risk Factors • Early detection increases
perform life-saving organ transplants. • Genetic predisposition survival rate of early stage
• Personal or family history of disease.
CORE offers a variety of educational programs tailored to meet breast, ovarian or colon cancer • A Pap Smear DOES NOT
the needs of the general public, corporations and healthcare pro- • Increasing age detect ovarian cancer
fessionals. For additional information or to schedule a program, • Undesired fertility
call CORE at 800-DONORS-7.
If you are not already a donor and wish to do so, please visit www. Facts National Ovarian
donatelife-pa.org to sign up. It only takes a few moments and • All women are at risk. Cancer Coalition
could mean so much to someone waiting. • Symptoms do exist and www.ovarian.org
can be extremely vague yet 1-888-OVARIAN
INFLAMMATORY BREAST CANCER increase
Inflammatory Breast Cancer is a unique and uncommon type of over time.
breast cancer. It does not produce a distinct mass or lump that can
be felt within the breast. The lack of a lump or mass also makes
inflammatory breast cancer difficult to detect by mammograms.
Symptoms may include:
• One breast larger than the other SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF A HEART
• Red or pink skin ATTACK
• Swelling
• Rash (entire breast or small patches) As a woman you may experience the classic chest pains associated
with heart attacks in men. It is more likely you will have less obvious
• Orange-like texture (peau d’ orange) warnings. Seek help fast—call 9-1-1—with more than one of these
• Skin hot to the touch symptoms:
• Pain and/or itchiness
• Ridges or thickened areas of breast • Shortness of breath
• Nipple discharge • Pain in the abdomen, back, jaw or throat
• Nipples that appear inverted or flattened • A general sensation of uneasiness-just feeling sick
• Swollen lymph nodes under the armpit • Unexplained anxiety
• Swollen lymph nodes of the neck (sometimes) • Palpitations, cold sweat or paleness
If one or more symptoms continue for more than a week talk to a • Chest discomfort, lasting more than a few minutes or recurring
physician with experience with this particular type of breast cancer. • Chest discomfort, with light headedness
• Fainting, sweating, nausea or shortness of breath
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