Meetings
- 10/31/2009
Gainesville, FL 9:00AM ~ 1:00PM
News
What is vHL?
vHL is a hereditary, multisystem disease that occurs in about 1 in 36,000 live births. There is a 50/50 chance of passing the gene defect for vHL to each child. Once diagnosed as having the mutated vHL gene an individual might develop benign (Not cancerous: does not invade nearby tissue or spread to other parts of the body) or malignant (Cancerous: a growth with a tendency to invade and spread to other parts of the body) tumors (An abnormal mass of tissue that results from excessive cell division) and cysts in many organs.
These areas include, brain, spine, inner ear, eye, kidneys, adrenal glands, pancreas, and reproductive adnexal organs (broad ligament and testicles).
Due to the complex nature of von Hippel-Lindau disease it is imperative to achieve an early diagnosis, have comprehensive screenings, early treatment and routine follow-ups for the best outcome. Early detection is cructial for the treatment of vHL. DNA testing is one option that can be used in the early detection of vHL.
With modern technology, the development of new and better treatments, including non-invasive options, and the on-going research on vHL the future for vHL patients is better than ever.
Financial Resources Article on www.Cancer.net
For more detailed information about vHL, please see the NIH Guidelines.
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