BOSTON, Nov. 22, 2011 — On Thursday, November 10, 2011, Grey's Anatomy character "Henry Burton" played by actor Scott Foley died from complications from von Hippel-Lindau (VHL). Foley's character introduced the rare genetic disease to mainstream media and now it is our task to continue educating the world about VHL and one day find a cure. VHL is a genetic disease which causes excessive growth of blood vessels which cause abnormal growth of tumorous tissues in multiple areas in the body, for example the adrenal glands, kidneys, pancreas, and the central nervous system. Research on VHL is essential since it is the gene that hijacks the major feeding pipeline of every tumor. If we can cure VHL, we are one step closer to curing other forms of cancer!
Many people are unaware about von Hippel-Lindau and the number of lives affected by the disease. The number of people affected by VHL is equivalent to those who suffer from Cystic Fibrosis. So do your share and become aware. For more information on how you can support the effort, contact VHL Family Alliance at 617-277-5667 or visit the website http://www.vhl.org . Want to keep updated on upcoming events and information? Become our friend on Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/VHLFA , or follow us on Twitter @vhl_alliance.
Contact:
VHL Family Alliance International
Ilene Sussman
Executive Director
Email
Telephone: 617-277-5667
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