You’ve heard the robbers expression “your money or your life”.  Well some would argue the choice, provided there isn’t a gun pointed at your head or a knife at your throat.  If you are trained in martial arts and given those options, that thief most likely is going to experience the unexpected.  If you’re a normal citizen then the obvious choice would to hand over your wallet.  These comparisons are quite different with different outcomes.  I argue the similar choices are given to an individual when they are inflicted with a serious illness.  Or in my situation, a serious autoimmune disease, psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.  

Psoriasis is a very frustrating and insidious disease.  When I was first dignosed I had no idea what I was up against.  This disease became my thief.  As this disease progressed it stole more of my life as I knew it each and everyday.  My ambitions and my dreams were slowly being diminished.  My thoughts became “why me” and “how is this happening to me”.  My only fight was to educate myself about this serious autoimmune disease and try to remedy the problem.  This was like having a gun pointed at my head.  It all happened so fast.  I needed to become my own health advocate.  Where would I be if it wasn’t for the resources afforded to me by the National Psoriasis Foundation.  

The NPF has become my sensei.  My new life’s lesson began over 25 years ago.  This became more than just a hold up, this became a hostage situation.  My thoughts shifted from personal gain to personal health.  My doctor told me psoriasis was a chronic disease and there is no cure.  I can laugh now thinking to myself “nah, I’ll just have the upset stomach and be done with it”, from my doctor’s health menu.  How was I to support my family and juggle this relentless disease?  My life was taking on water without a bilge pump. 

I needed to learn everything there is to know.  I slowly was gaining ground on this disease.  Even with all my research, I discovered that we really didn’t know much about this serious autoimmune disease that dated back to biblical times.  Science needed to catch up quick if I was going to have any chance to improve my quality of life.  I did everything and anything to help find relief.  I even signed up for a few clinical trials.  I remember saying to the physician’s assistant at the time, “imagine if we could take a shot and our psoriasis would go away”.  Let’s just say this, I did a lot of praying.  

Let’s make a long story short.  Our space is finally getting attention due to some major discoveries.  I remember reading in the Advance Bulletin years ago that scientist discovered a gene responsible for our disease.  This sparked my interest in science.  I started reading up on and the molecular make up of DNA.  TNF inhibitors, interlukins, cytokines, dendritic cells, T-cells, JAK inhibitors, heterodimeric receptors, keratinocyte proliferation.  I tried reading abstracts and theories, but not fully understanding what was being said. Websites like pubmed.gov and the NIH and JAMA, intrigued me.  The conversation was above my intellect. 

The current medication I’m on targets IL-17a.  The medication binds with these proteins and eliminates the symptoms of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.  But there is newer science that goes beyond that.  

Monoclonal antibody treatment targeting both the common p40 subunit and the IL-23 specific p19 subunit have demonstrated outstanding clinical efficacy. 

The new discoveries have me very excited.  I’m looking forward for the approval of these medications that use this science.  It won’t be long now that these medications become available. 

Psoriasis is a complex, multi-factorial autoimmune disease, with many complex immunogenetic contributions. Despite our increase in knowledge about disease pathogenesis and the identification of predisposing genetic risk factors in the form of SNPs, there are many unanswered questions. 

And this article goes on to say;

It is not unreasonable to speculate that in the future, personalized medicine and specific immunomodulatory treatment will be based upon genetic alterations in particular immune genes.

To summarize all this, our best defense is a stong offense.  In other words, we have to become our own advocate. Knowing that we are not alone in this fight.  Don’t let this disease steal your dreams and ambitions.  Fight back with knowledge and a better understanding of our disease.  Our disease doesn’t define us. Make it empower you. Work together with your doctor.  Find a treatment that works.  Although our journeys are different, our goals are the same.  Use all the available resources available to you.  I wish you and your family health and happiness.  Have a blessed day. 

One more thing, the National Psoriasis Foundation turns 50 this year.  We will be celebrating this event all year.  The actual party is on Thursday June 8th, at the Plaza Hotel in NYC.  Here is the link;  https://www.psoriasis.org/50th-celebration #NPF50th

Also, in honor of their volunteers, the NPF is planning a National Volunteer Conference and Research Symposium in Chicago IL August 3-5 at the Swiss Hotel. Visit https://www.psoriasis.org/2017researchsymposium
This week May 1st through the 6th; visit https://www.psoriasis.org/media/press-releases/national-psoriasis-foundation-launches-inaugural-psoriatic-arthritis-psa-action

National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF) is proud to launch its first-ever Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) Action Week, a campaign that aims to provide concrete ways to better live, work and play with PsA while providing information about diagnosis and treatment options

And last but not least, Saturday May 13th, the NPF will be hosting annual Cycling event.  I am the outreach chair for this event and I’m happy to announce that we are on schedule to surpass last year’s numbers.  If you would like to support our team visit, https://npf.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.team&teamID=7213

Footnotes:

Quotes provided to you in this blog are from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4628849/

 

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