Episode 8: Interview w/Cynthia McCloud
Posted by blackinformant on September 14th, 2009
If you ever need encouragement, this is the show for you. Join me as I talk with Cynthia McCloud. She’s an ordinary person who had to learn how to conquer the extraordinary challenges in her life. Her latest challenger: Lupus. Cynthia has an amazing story that everyone needs to hear. You can read about it at her blog www.cynthiafights.com.
Also, I’ll be giving a quick update and overview on blackinformant.com. I have gained a lot of new subscribers over the last few months and I want to make sure you guys get a warm introduction.
Show notes
Cynthia McCloud’s website: www.cynthiafights.com
From womenshealth.gov
What is lupus?
Lupus (LOO-puhss) is a chronic, autoimmune (aw-toh-ih-MYOON) disease that can damage any part of the body (skin, joints, and/or organs inside the body). Chronic means that the signs and symptoms tend to last longer than six weeks and often for many years. In lupus, something goes wrong with your immune system, which is the part of the body that fights off viruses, bacteria, and other germs (“foreign invaders,” like the flu). Normally our immune system produces proteins called antibodies that protect the body from these invaders. Autoimmune means your immune system cannot tell the difference between these foreign invaders and your body’s healthy tissues (“auto” means “self”). In lupus, your immune system creates autoantibodies (AW-toh-AN-teye-bah-deez), which attack and destroy healthy tissue. These autoantibodies cause inflammation, pain, and damage in various parts of the body.
When people talk about “lupus,” they usually mean systemic lupus erythematosus (ur-uh-thee-muh-TOH-suhss), or SLE. This is the most common type of lupus. Studies suggest that more than 16,000 new cases are reported annually across the country. Although lupus can affect almost any organ system, the disease, for most people, affects only a few parts of the body. For example, one person with lupus may have swollen knees and fever. Another person may be tired all the time or have kidney trouble. Someone else may have rashes.
Normally, lupus develops slowly, with symptoms that come and go. Women who get lupus most often develop symptoms and are diagnosed between the ages of 15 and 45. But the disease also can develop in childhood or later in life. For most people, lupus is a mild disease. But for others, it may cause serious problems. Even if your lupus symptoms are mild, it is a serious disease that needs treatment. It can harm your organs and put your life at risk if untreated. Lupus & African Americans (blackdoctor.org)
