The Fifth Annual
Drive For A Cure
to benefit the Histiocytosis Association of America
 

What Is Histiocytosis?

Histiocytosis is a rare blood disease caused by an excess of white blood cells
called Histiocytes.  These Histiocytes cluster together and can attack almost any part of the body.  The disease can range from limited involvement to progressive,
multi-organ involvement that can be chronic or debilitating.  In some cases,
the disease is life-threatening.

Histiocytosis is similar to cancer in some ways and is often treated with chemo-therapy and radiation.  It is approximated that Histiocytosis affects 1 in 200,000 people, mostly children, each year in the United States.

For patients, families and physicians alike, nearly everything about Histiocytosis
is challenging: getting a speedy and accurate diagnosis, understanding the disease
and determining the most effective treatment.  Histiocytosis is often referred to as an orphan's disease, meaning it strikes too few people to generate much governmentally supported research.

To learn more about Histiocytosis, please visit the Histiocytosis Association of America's Website (HAA).