Many of the people living with MS today will tell you that the most terrifying part of their journey was the time they spent in between their symptoms first appearing and receiving their diagnosis.
During this confusing period of uncertainty, they can feel lonely and unheard – and every day spent without a diagnosis is another day we’re unable to provide specialist care and support to ease the burden of their MS.
Our researchers are working on new ways to diagnose MS earlier. And they need your support. Please donate today.
Together, we can put time on the side of someone like Deb.
Someone who knows about the importance of an early diagnosis is Deb.
Unfortunately for her, she didn’t get one. And although her story is inspiring, it’s also a poignant reminder of how much there is still to be done to improve the futures of people living with MS, here in Australia and around the world.
Deb’s symptoms started appearing when she was just 15, in 1979. But she didn’t receive her MS diagnosis until 1997. And in the years in between, with no explanation for her worsening condition, this teacher, devoted wife and loving mother began to question her own sanity. “I felt strangely happy that my symptoms had a cause beyond me losing my mind,” recalls Deb, “when I received my diagnosis, my husband just said we would work through it. And we did.”
You can end the pain and uncertainty that a misdiagnosis can cause. It’s about time an MS diagnosis didn’t limit a life.
There were times when I felt as though. I was being treated like some kind of fraudster. I felt so alone and unheard...”
– Deb
How your generous gift can help research that puts time on the side of people living with MS.
$75
Can help support early diagnosis through awareness and other support programs.
$235
Can help support the research into better diagnosis, reducing the time it takes to support people with MS.
$550
Can help expand the support and treatment of people with MS to reduce the burden of a diagnosis.
“Every breakthrough takes time, patience and resilience.” – Dr Lin
It’s about time we found a way to diagnose MS earlier.
Dr Lin’s research focuses on developing biological markers for MS, aiming to create a faster, easier diagnostic process.
“One of the big challenges that remains is that we still don't have a good set of blood-based markers for MS. Blood samples are less invasive and more clinically accessible. The current process of diagnosing MS remains time-consuming and it presents a barrier to treating MS from the earliest stages.” says Dr Lin.
With your support, Dr Lin's team is working on finding an effective way to diagnose MS via a blood test. And if they’re successful, doctors will be able to identify MS much sooner and with greater accuracy, ensuring patients receive the right treatment earlier, reducing suffering and improving outcomes.
You can end the frustration and medical impact that comes with a misdiagnosis. Support the research that will improve MS diagnosis and put time on our side today.
