I read with sorrow about Gino Odjick having AL Amyloidosis. About 3,000 amyloid cases are discovered in the United States each year and a vast majority are identified during or near the final stages of the disease. Less than one per cent of our population knows of this disease and about the same percentage of physicians know the symptoms.
Many people have known or knows someone that has or had amyloidosis. Patient and physician education is very important because most amyloid cases are discovered late. Early identification, diagnosis, and specialize treatment are most important in improving and maintaining the highest quality of life for the amyloidosis patient. Early identification is most important, as opposed to being identified too late.
"Too late," is the major reason average life expectancy is 18 to 24 months. Amyloidosis is a tenacious killer that is cunning in its approach and difficult to diagnose. It is a despicable devastator of the human body and a most horrible way to die. Today more drugs are being studied and more research projects are conducted than ever before and someday a cure will be discovered and that will be a happy day indeed.
Boris Sellers
Clarkston, Michigan
