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We are pleased to offer you the following helpful information
on scleroderma and help available at our Chapter:
INFORMATION
The Scleroderma Foundation Southeast Florida Chapter
is one of 21 chapters of the National Scleroderma Foundation,
a 501(c)3 non-profit organization located outside of
Boston, Mass.
 The
Foundation's mission is three-fold:
Support: To help patients and their families
cope with scleroderma through mutual support programs,
peer counseling, physician referrals, and educational
information.
Education: To promote public awareness and education
through patient and health professional seminars, literature,
and publicity campaigns.
Research: To stimulate and support research
to improve treatment and ultimately find the cause of
and cure for scleroderma and related diseases.
Scleroderma is a chronic, autoimmune connective tissue
disease, and the word scleroderma literally means hard
skin.
Common symptoms include hardening and thickening of
the skin, one of the most visible manifestations of
the disease. Other symptoms include Raynaud’s
disease (abnormal sensitivity to cold in the extremities),
swelling of the hands and feet, pain and stiffness of
the joints, joint contractures, digestive system and
gastrointestinal tract problems, oral, facial and dental
problems, and kidney, heart and lung involvement.
Characteristics of the disease include an over-production
of collagen and damage to blood vessels.
Approximately 300,000 people in the United States suffer
from scleroderma. Scleroderma primarily affects women
between the ages of 25 and 55. There is currently no
known cause or cure.
The Scleroderma Foundation funds over $1,000,000 in
research annually to help find the cure.
HELP AVAILABLE AT OUR CHAPTER
 Our
Chapter is pleased to offer a variety of programs and
services to help people affected by scleroderma including:
- Membership
For just $25, you can become a member of our Foundation,
which provides with a complimentary subscription to
the "Scleroderma Voice," a quarterly magazine
published by our national office. It is an outstanding
publication offering readers the latest in scleroderma
news, information, care and treatment.
Membership provides you with additional benefits associated
with our Chapter, as well. For more information on
all membership and all levels of membership we offer,
please click here.
 Support
Groups for Patients
We offer five support groups across southeast Florida
where patients can meet with others who have scleroderma
to discuss their unique challenges and coping techniques.
Click here for information
on our support groups for patients.- Help Line
Contact us anytime at (954) 798-1854 for information,
counsel, physician referrals and anything we can
do to help you.
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