Thursday, June 02, 2011

the media face of Multiple Sclerosis

World MS Day was just a week ago. Googling through Multiple Sclerosis news for the past week I was somewhat surprised to see the media face of MS.


Don’t forget to take your Vitamin D! “Multiple sclerosis springs from environment, metabolism and genes interacting with Vitamin D” Multiple sclerosis mechanism uncovered

It’s tick season so this one not only makes sense but also touches on the complications in diagnosing MS and/or a misdiagnoses of MS. “Notorious in medical circles as a great imitator, Lyme disease …mirror other conditions like multiple sclerosis and fibromyalgia.” Pennsylvania leads country in Lyme disease cases

MS awareness is obviously low in the criminal community. man with multiple sclerosis has wheelchair stolen

In the UK, one hand prescribes Sativex while the other refuses to pay for it. MS patients denied licensed cannabis drug by NHS 

Yet through it all, the ‘business’ of Multiple Sclerosis has been a steady source of news. “The MS market is a lucrative and high-margin one, with many treatments costing about $40,000 a year. The current top selling drugs … generate combined annual sales of about $11 billion.” Stocks to watch in the MS drug market 

$11 billion is apparently just not enough as Bayer (maker of Betaseron) is reportedly cutting 540 jobs out of California economy and outsourcing their plant to Germany. Is ‘outsourcing’ to Germany correct media usage, when Bayer is a German company?

Could any week be complete without pop culture … Meredith Viera doesn't want to be known as the woman who quit her high-paying job to take care of her ailing husband with Multiple Sclerosis.

Living with MS one does not really need a weatherman to tell you which way the wind is blowing. Yet for the public, those newly diagnosed with MS, or family and friends of someone with MS the media face of Multiple Sclerosis does make a difference. Information and awareness is NOT the same thing. 
Caregivingly Yours, Patrick Leer 
web site: caregivinglyyours.com  

2 comments:

  1. Well said, Patrick. Although, I guess if you buy into the adage there's no such thing as bad publicity, something's better than nothing, I guess ...

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  2. I think it is an honorable thing that Meredith Viera is quitting to take care of her husband, I'm not sure why she wouldn't want to be known for that; California sure doesn't need to lose any more jobs, but I'm sure Bayer made the best decision they could for the company......

    betty

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