November 1st is Acromegaly Awareness Day!
What is Acromegaly?
Acromegaly is a hormonal disorder characterized by significant, abnormal growth, caused by an excess amount of growth hormone, or GH. GH is produced by the pituitary gland, specifically from noncancerous tumors on the pituitary, called adenomas.
Acromegaly is not to be confused with gigantism. Acromegaly and gigantism are similar conditions, but gigantism occurs in children specifically, while acromegaly most often develops in adults who are middle-aged. If acromegaly goes untreated, the outcome may be serious illness and death.
To learn more about acromegaly, click here!
Click here for a high-res version of a useful infographic!
“A Day in My Shoes” Challenge
Pharmaceutical company Novartis launched “A Day in My Shoes” – a campaign that focuses on empathy and awareness for those with acromegaly.
And they even issued a fun photo challenge to get the ball rolling in awareness!
Here’s what to do:
Step 1: Put on your favorite shoes
Step 2: Take a “shoe selfie”
Step 3: Post it on your social media networks with the hashtags #MyAcroShoes, #AcromegalyAwarenessDay, #ADayInMyShoes, and any others you’d like to add, to bolster visibility!
Step 4: Check out other shoe selfies to like/retweet by searching similar hashtags!
Easy, right?! Let’s get snapping!
Check out this Patient Blog!
And if selfies ain’t your thing, check out this blog by acromegaly patient Kara LaFrance, who offers tips, pics, and candor in her journey with the rare disease.
Sometimes, all we need is to know that we’re not alone; rare doesn’t mean you’re the only one fighting the fight.
So whether you’re reading everyday musings from a fellow acromegaly warrior, or snapping selfies in your flyest kicks, do your part to shine the spotlight on this rare disease!
