T- Boz Speaks out in PSA to help people with SCD

Many people came to know more about SCD through the efforts of Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins of the R&B group, TLC. Many people with SCD grow up knowing that this disease could greatly impact their life, but at 35, T-Boz is going strong and is an inspiration to many. Not only did she sing and dance her way to stardom with the pop group TLC, she gave birth to a child at 30. “Everything I ever wanted to do, I did. I'm all for taking over the disease instead of letting it take over me."

About Sickle Cell Disease

More than 80,000 Americans have SCD and over two million people carry the trait that allows them to pass it on to offspring. Sickle cell disease causes red blood cells to change shape and become sticky, giving them the potential to tangle like coat hangers and clog blood vessels. This blockage, depending on where it occurs in the body, can cause tissue damage, pain episodes and stroke.

The symptoms of SCD can range from very mild to severe, and vary widely from person to person. Common symptoms include fatigue, paleness, jaundice, shortness of breath and pain in the body organs and joints.

Without the proper care, SCD can lead to even more serious medical problems, such as damage to most organs, and ultimately, death. That’s why it’s important for people with the disease to get consistent medical care throughout life, and to work with their physicians on a proper treatment plan.

Treatment

There is no cure for sickle cell disease. Treatment is aimed at managing psychological, emotional and physical concerns and improving a person’s quality of life. Staying well hydrated, use of penicillin in children to decrease infections, use of hydroxyurea in some patients, and regular blood transfusions are important parts of the supportive care of SCD.

Regularly scheduled blood transfusions treat SCD by increasing the number of normal red blood cells in circulation, which reduces episodes of pain and the risk of stroke and other complications. While the value of transfusion is increasingly recognized in helping SCD patients, repeated transfusions also cause excess iron to accumulate in the heart, liver, and other organs. This often leads to a potentially life-threatening condition called iron overload.

Iron Overload

Diagnosing and treating iron overload is an important part of life-long management of SCD. If iron overload is left undiagnosed and untreated, over time, it can lead to debilitating and life-threatening consequences, including damage to the liver, heart and endocrine glands. But there is good news. Iron overload can easily be diagnosed through a simple screening test—and treated.

Currently, routine medical care and checkups do not include screening for excess iron, and because the early symptoms of iron overload can be general in nature (fatigue, weakness, weight loss and abdominal pain), it is critical for people who receive repeated blood transfusions to be screened for iron overload.

Two simple and inexpensive blood tests that measure the levels of iron in the body, performed right in the doctor’s office, are used to screen for iron overload. Once diagnosed, iron overload can be treated successfully, using a process known as iron chelation.

Iron Chelation

The human body is not able to naturally get rid of excess iron. Excess iron can be removed by using an iron chelator, a medical treatment that binds to the iron and helps to remove it from the body.

Bottom Line

With proper medical care and treatment, people with SCD are able to live relatively comfortable, productive lives. For more information on iron overload, visit www.toomuchiron.com.