DISCLAIMER
The information and materials accessed through or made available for use on any of our Sites, including, any information about diseases, conditions, treatments, or medicines, are for informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and your participation on our Sites does not create a healthcare professional-patient relationship. You should consult a doctor or other qualified health care professional regarding any questions you have about your health or before making any decisions related to your health or wellness. Call your doctor or 911 immediately if you think you may have a medical emergency.compose your message
message sent
email sent successfully
Trusted Resources: News & Events
Latest announcements and gatherings
5 Myths and Facts About Sickle Cell Disease (SCD)
1. PAIN
MYTH: All individuals with SCD are drug addicts.
FACT: The hallmark of SCD is severe unpredictable pain sometimes requiring high doses of narcotics.
2. LIFESPAN
MYTH: Individuals with SCD don’t live past the age of 21.
FACT: The vast majority of individuals live well into adulthood.
3. TRAIT
MYTH: Sickle cell trait is a mild form of sickle cell disease.
FACT: Sickle cell trait is not a disease; it is generally an asymptomatic carrier state.
– If both parents have sickle cell trait, there is a 1 in 4 chance of having a baby with SCD.
– 1 out of 13 African Americans has sickle cell trait and many don’t know that they have it.
4. RACE
MYTH: SCD only affects black people.
FACT: SCD is seen in people of many races.
5. CURE
MYTH: Bone marrow (stem cell) transplant is a universal cure.
FACT: Not all individuals with SCD are eligible for stem cell transplant. There are associated risks. To learn more about the NIH Cure Sickle Cell Initiative, visit www.curesickle.org.
Related Content
-
news & eventsProclamation on National Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month, 2020 – By the President of the United States of ...As our nation recognizes National Sickle...
-
videos & visualsSickle Cell Patient Finds a Better way of Living Through Apheresishttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSTUaeFz...
-
education & researchImproving vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC) management for those living with sickle cell diseaseThe Sickle Cell Disease Council For CHAN...
-
Community CenterSick CellsElevating the voices of the sickle cell ...
-
people & placesSickle Cell Disease Association of Alabama – Mobile ChapterThe Sickle Cell Disease Association of A...
-
people & placesSickle Cell Disease Patients Community of TanzaniaThe main objective Sickle Cell Disease P...
-
people & placesCalvanay NunleyCalvanay Nunley is a sickle cell warrior...
send a message
To improve your experience on this site, we use cookies. This includes cookies essential for the basic functioning of our website, cookies for analytics purposes, and cookies enabling us to personalize site content. By clicking on 'Accept' or any content on this site, you agree that cookies can be placed. You may adjust your browser's cookie settings to suit your preferences. More Information
The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this.
Support for this site is provided by
This platform is made possible through a partnership with the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Inc. (SCDAA) and its member organizations. SCDAA's mission is to advocate for people affected by sickle cell conditions and empower community-based organizations to maximize quality of life and raise public consciousness while advancing the search for a universal cure.