It’s your turn: Speak out about arthritis!
September is Arthritis month so now is your chance to educate your family, friends, co-workers and neighbours about what it’s like to live with arthritis. Tell them about the chronic pain, fatigue and how you just can’t push through life or else your body takes notice. Tell them how it’s a disease that affects children, young parents and nearly 5 million Canadians from all walks of life. You can also Make Your Voice Heard with your local Member of Parliament!
CAPA Biosimilars Video
We have produced a video on a new type of medication called Biosimilars which are now on the market in Canada and internationally. Watch the video to understand the difference between biologic and biosimilar drugs. The video is available in English and French. Listen carefully and ask your health care professional about the medications you take!
Methotrexate Survey
Methotrexate is an effective and common medication used to treat some forms of arthritis. It also can be challenging to take because of the side effects. We’d like to learn more about your experience taking Methotrexate so we can add new information into our resource on Methotrexate. Take the survey(which is also available in French) and share your tips and tricks with other patients!
The patient voice heard (Acetaminophen consultations) – CAPA President, Linda Wilhelm, and members of the Best Medicines Coalition have been vocal in communicating the voice of the patient to Health Canada throughout their consultations on the use of Acetaminophen. Health Canada was considering reducing the dosage of over-the-counter Acetaminophen but clearly heard that this would restrict access to people with arthritis who suffer from debilitating chronic pain. Stay informed by reading the Information Update from Health Canada about the label changes to Acetaminophen.
Resource on Methotrexate & Biologics – CAPA has developed a resource about pairing Methotrexate and Biologic medications. The resource provides an overview of Methotrexate, why it’s used in combination with biologics and managing side effects. It’s available in English and French and was developed in collaboration with healthcare providers.
Guest Post: Mariah Facing Forward – CAPA Board Member, Nathalie Robertson, shared her experiences as a parent living with arthritis. Read about her challenges, tips and tricks and how she stays positive in spite of her illness!
Guest Post: The Seated View – CAPA Board Member, Laurie Proulx, wrote a guest post for The Seated View about the results of the pregnancy and parenting with arthritis survey. Learn how certain issues were more important to people living with arthritis and what surprised us…
Arthritis Alliance of Canada – CAPA is a founding member and active contributor to the Arthritis Alliance of Canada (AAC). You can view the organization’s monthly newsletters on their website. Several CAPA Board Members will be attending the AAC annual meeting in late October.
New Creaky Joints website – Creaky Joints is an organization that is dedicated to providing patients and families with resources and support. Resources are available on a range of topics and they have recently launched their own research program. Stay informed by visiting their recently re-designed website!
Reaching out with Arthritis Research (ROAR) – Become an active partner in your care and learn more about the latest in arthritis research by attending the Reaching out with Arthritis Research (ROAR) event on October 1st. Topics to be discussed include: cardiovascular risk in rheumatoid arthritis, dietary considerations, employment issues and much more! You can attend in person in Vancouver or participate through a webcast. Don’t delay – register now!
Mamas Facing Forward Around the World – We actively partner with many groups including Mamas Facing Forward. It is a group of parents living with chronic illness who support each other through a private group on Facebook. Read how the group started and how the reach of the group has grown. There are members in 30 US States, Canada, England, Ireland, Belgium, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, South Africa, Uganda and Senegal!
Website, Facebook, Twitter & YouTube – Our website, Facebook page and Twitter account are updated regularly with new information. We have now opened up a YouTube channel where you can view our videos on Biosimilars. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to keep up to date on the latest arthritis and advocacy information.
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