Helping
Physicians Help Their Patients
Endometriosis is a painful reproductive and immunological
disease afflicting over 7 million American women and teens, with
millions more worldwide (twice the number of Alzheimer's
patients and seven times those with Parkinson's Disease). The
illness is a leading cause of female infertility, chronic pelvic
pain and gynecologic surgery, and accounts for nearly half of
the 500,000 hysterectomies performed in the United States
annually. It is more prevalent than breast cancer, yet
continues to be treated as an insignificant, obscure ailment.
Recent studies have even shown an elevated risk of certain
cancers in women with Endometriosis. The average delay in
diagnosis is a startling 9 years, and a woman will go through as
many as 5 physicians before she is properly diagnosed and
treated.
Even in this age of medical advances, Endometriosis remains a
conundrum to patients and practitioners alike. The disease can
only be diagnosed definitively through invasive surgery, and
while there are several theories, researchers remain unsure as
to the definitive cause of Endometriosis. The disease knows no
racial or socio-economic barriers, and can affect women ranging
from adolescence to post-menopause. Once touted as mythical
treatments, we know today that "pregnancy" and "hysterectomy"
are far from curative - worse still: there is no absolute cure.
The disease can be so painful as to render a woman or teen
unable to care for herself or her family or attend work, school
or social functions. Endometriosis affects every aspect of a
woman's life, from her self-esteem to her relationships to her
ability to be a contributing member of society.
The ERC is
an established 501(c)3 tax-exempt, tax-deductible organization
founded by Executive Director Michelle E. Marvel in early 1997
to address the growing International need for Endometriosis
research, education, awareness and support. The ERC is unique
in that unlike similar organizations, there is no fee to join,
participate in or benefit from the ERC's programs. With world
headquarters located in South Florida, USA, the organization is
pleased to host a virtual network of staff and volunteers around
the world who help implement the ERC's various programs in the
online and local communities on a global basis.
Endometriosis, while not life-threatening, can indeed be
life-altering for many. Our organization can help you and your
patients by providing you with our authoritative, accurate
information and access to our many support networks.
While we do not screen, recommend or endorse any particular
physicians to our members, we can aid them in their search by
identifying those medical professionals who have an interest in
the disease. We invite you to join our growing registry of
caring physicians today: order educational ERC brochures for
your office, give a presentation to a support group meeting,
subscribe and contribute to the ERC monthly Newsletter, order
the latest Endometriosis articles or other materials from the
ERC, participate in our Professional Advisory Panel, make a
tax-deductible charitable contribution towards our various
programs, or otherwise support our mission in your own way.
Together, we can make a difference in the lives of your
patients, so
contact us
today!
Check out
our Adopt-a-Doc program today!
http://www.endocenter.org/adoptadoctor.htm