Awareness for neurofibromatosis

To the editor:May is NF Awareness Month. NF stands for neurofibromatosis, which encompasses a set of distinct genetic disorders that cause tumors to grow along various types of nerves and, in addition, can affect the development of non-nervous tissues such as bones and skin. Neurofibromatosis can cause tumors to grow anywhere on or in the body. There are three different types of NF. The manifestations of the disorder widely vary.

Our daughter was diagnosed when she was 9 months old. She is now 8 years old and is doing great. This is why it is important to my family to bring awareness to this disorder. Many people have never heard of it. We had not heard of it when our daughter was diagnosed, but in our education of her disorder we realize that without awareness, there will be less research. There is currently no treatment or cure for NF. If you would like to learn more about the disorder visit www.ctf.org.

MICHELLE SCHWETTMAN, Scott City