You want to help. But you may not know what you can do for a friend or family member with sickle cell disease.

The good news is that, just by knowing some basic facts, you can help protect your loved one against misunderstanding.

Myths and Facts

Take a moment to learn some common myths and facts about sickle cell disease.

Myth

You can catch sickle cell disease from another person.

Fact

Sickle cell disease is hereditary, not contagious. That means you can't catch it. The only way you can get sickle cell disease is from your parents, before you were born. You either inherited the genes for sickle cell disease or you didn't. Nothing you do can change that fact.

Myth

People who have the sickle cell trait can develop sickle cell disease.

Fact

You cannot get sickle cell disease just from having the trait. Having the sickle cell trait only means that there is a chance your children may have sickle cell disease if you have children with someone else who has the trait.

Myth

Sickle cell disease only affects African-Americans.

Fact

Sickle cell disease is more common among people of African or Hispanic descent. But it is found among people of all ancestries.

Myth

The treatment of sickle cell disease never really improves. Nobody cares about changing this condition.

Fact

In the past 30 years, many advances have been made in the treatment of sickle cell disease. Early detection through screening of newborns improves survival.¹ Bone marrow transplants can cure some children with sickle cell disease if they have a matched donor.²

Myth

People with sickle cell disease die at a young age.

Fact

Many people with sickle cell disease have a normal lifespan. The key to living a long life with sickle cell disease is to get good medical care and keep a positive outlook.

Myth

There's nothing you can do to help.

Fact

Helping is something you do just by caring. You don't need to take on a lot of responsibility. Among the many small and important things you can do, one is just learning more about the condition. Know the difference between myth and reality. Making the effort to understand what it is like for the person you care about is a great way to help. It may help you feel better as well.

Learn More*

There are many websites where you can learn more about sickle cell disease and read stories of people who live with it. You may want to visit:

• The Sickle Cell Disease Association of America (SCDAA)
  sicklecelldisease.org
  Another source for education about sickle cell disease.
• American Sickle Cell Anemia Association (ASCAA)
  ascaa.org
  Find education about sickle cell disease.
• Net of Care
  NetofCare.org
  Information and resources for caregivers to people with sickle cell disease.
• Sickle Cell Advocates for Research and Empowerment (SCARE)
  defiers.com
  Find songs, stories, and poetry by people with sickle cell disease.
• SickleCellKids.org
  SickleCellKids.org
  A fun, educational site for kids. Requires Adobe Flash®.

* The websites listed on this page are maintained by third parties over whom Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation has no control. As such, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation makes no representation as to the accuracy, completeness, adequacy, or any other aspect of the information contained on such sites.

Pass It On

Understanding is important. For someone living with sickle cell disease, the more their friends and family understand about the disease, the better. If you know someone who might like to learn more, you may print this page or send it by email.

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