Ken Sutcliffe says he “was born” to help others – a mentality that led him to join the army and become a firefighter after his time with the military ended. Unbeknownst to Ken, some studies have shown firefighters and Veterans are each twice as likely to develop ALS – also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease – than others who haven’t served in these professions.[1],[2] Now, as someone living with ALS, Ken pursues his passion for helping others in a different way by spreading awareness of this devastating disease.
ALS is a rapidly progressive, neurodegenerative disease, with no cure. People living with ALS eventually lose their ability to walk, write, speak, move, swallow, and breathe on their own.[3] In honor of First Responders Day on October 28, we’re shining a light on those who heroically risk their lives helping others, like Ken, to inform them of this disease, their risk, and its impact.
Ken Sutcliffe, a retired firefighter, U.S. Veteran, and MTPA patient ambassador will be available to share his personal story of living with ALS, discuss how he’s helping to spread awareness of the disease, and share how others living with the disease can help support the ALS community. Ken will be joined by his wife and primary caregiver, Andi Sutcliffe.
ALS Facts:
· ALS is a neurodegenerative disease that can progress rapidly without treatment.2
· An estimated 5,000-6,000 Americans are diagnosed with ALS each year.[4],[5]
· Initial symptoms like muscle weakness, loss of balance, and slurred speech can be subtle at first, and because of this, it can take up to 12 to 14 months to be diagnosed with ALS.[6],[7]
· 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.[8]
Interview is courtesy: Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America, Inc.
[1] Vanacore N, Cocco P, Fadda D, Dosemeci M. Job strain, hypoxia and risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: Results from a death certificate study. Amyotroph Lateral Scler. 2010 Oct;11(5):430-4. doi: 10.3109/17482961003605796. PMID: 20698805.
[2] Weisskopf M, Cudkoicz M and Johnson N. (2015). Military service and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in a population
based cohort. Epidemiology, 26(6), 831–838. http://doi.org/10.1097/EDE.0000000000000376.
[3] Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Fact Sheet.” National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, June 2013, https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/Patient-Caregiver-Education/Fact-Sheets/Amyotrophic-Lateral-Sclerosis-ALS-Fact-Sheet.
[4] Mehta P, Kaye W, Bryan L, et al. (2016). Prevalence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis — United States, 2012– 2013.
[5] Marin B, Boumediene F, Logroscino G, et al. (2016). Variation in worldwide incidence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a meta analysis. Int J Epidemiol, 00:1-18.
[6] Ganesalingam, J. & Bowser, R. The application of biomarkers in clinical trials for motor neuron disease. Biomark Med. 4, 281– 97 (2010).
[7] Brooks BR. (2000). Risk factors in the early diagnosis of ALS: North American epidemiological studies. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Other Motor Neuron Disorders, 1:sup1, S19-S26.
[8] National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Information Page.
https://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/all-disorders/amyotrophic-lateral-sclerosis-als-information-page. Accessed Aug. 2022.
#heroes #lougehrig #kensutcliffe #andisutcliffe #lougehrigdisease #firefighters #firstresponders #support
