Acromegaly Awareness Day on November 1st was launched in 2015 by Jill Sisco President of Acromegaly Community in recognition of Tanya Angus and those who have passed that have brought awareness to the disease.
Tanya Angus was diagnosed in 2001 and passed away in 2013 due to her acromegaly being not controlled. Tanya Angus was a patient that was forthcoming with her acromegaly history and created huge awareness around acromegaly, through social media, TV and a website.
Every year on November 1st, Acromegaly organizations and support groups around the world, participate in creating awareness and knowledge of this rare disease. We are working on bringing more information out into the general public, describing what acromegaly is by using signs and symptoms, to help build awareness and above all to help create an earlier diagnosis of acromegaly in patients.
Acromegaly is a slow, progressive disease that typically takes years to diagnose and if left undiagnosed can result in early or premature death. It is caused by increased Growth Hormone levels in our pituitary gland, which causes abnormal growth patterns. Some of the signs and symptoms are gaps between your teeth, enlarged hands, feet and head size, skin tags, changing of facial features, daily headaches and migraines, excessive sweating and visual problems. Other related problems are enlargement of internal organs, disruption regulated glands, arthritis, diabetes, sleep apnea, hypertension, heart problems, hypertension, heart problems, colon polyps, depression, extreme weakness, carpal tunnel, decrease with libido and having to have hip/knee and shoulder surgery due to arthritis and bone growth.
Acromegaly generally manifests itself through a tumour in, on or near your pituitary gland which creates too much growth hormone.
Acromegaly Awareness Day is a world wide global recognition day.
- Work world-wide towards helping the general public understand what acromegaly is.
- Increase awareness about the signs and symptoms for early diagnosis to decrease premature acromegaly related deaths.
- Create and promote treating the 'whole patient', which includes mental, physical, psychological and social issues.
- Create more awareness of bringing GP’s better understanding and knowledge to diagnose a patient with acromegaly.
- Bring the GP, Endocrinologist and other specialists closer together with the patient for better treatment and quality of life.
- To change the stigma of what acromegaly patients look like.
- To have national governments recognize acromegaly and approve a proclamation for November 1st being Acromegaly Awareness Day.