Listen to “SHARING REAL STORIES OF PEOPLE LIVING WITH ALS THIS ALS AWARENESS MONTH in MAY” on Spreaker.
Former Nurse Practioner Diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) in Her 30’s
Advocates to Raise Awareness
On the day Stephen Hawking succumbed to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), 32 year-old Kate Nycz, a former nurse practioner, began her ALS journey. Hearing stories mostly about older men being diagnosed, she never imagined ALS could affect a young woman like herself.
ALS – also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease – is a rapidly progressive, neurodegenerative disease that currently has no cure. People living with ALS eventually lose their ability to speak, swallow, eat, move and breathe.
May is ALS Awareness Month, and in honor of that, we’d like to recognize the experiences of those impacted by this devastating disease and emphasize the importance of spreading awareness among the ALS community and beyond.
On Friday, May 5, Kate will be available to share her ALS story, discuss how she’s advocating and serving as a mentor for people with ALS, especially young women, and how others living with this disease can provide their support. Kate will be joined by her husband and primary caregiver, Kevin.
ALS Facts:
• On average, a new case of ALS is diagnosed every 90 minutes in the U.S.
• An estimated 5,000-6,000 Americans are diagnosed with ALS each year.
• Initial symptoms like muscle weakness, loss of balance and slurred speech can be subtle, and because of this, it can take up to 12 to 14 months to be diagnosed with ALS.
• The majority of people with ALS succumb to the disease two to five years after diagnosis, but disease progression can vary significantly across the patient population.
Interview is courtesy: Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America, Inc. (MTPA)
Footnotes available
