Lupus is not contagious. You cannot "catch" lupus from someone or "give" lupus to someone.
Lupus is not like or related to cancer. Cancer is a condition of malignant, abnormal tissues that grow rapidly and spread into surrounding tissues. Having Lupus is neither better than nor worse than having Cancer. The two diseases are very different. One commonality Lupus and Cancer have is using chemotherapy as treatment.
Lupus is not like or related to HIV (Human Immune Deficiency Virus) or AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). In HIV or AIDS, the immune system is under-active; in lupus, the immune system is overactive.*
Having Lupus isn't like having a cold, flu, or an STD. If I breathe on you, share your drink, or share body fluids you aren't going to suddenly come down with a raging case of Lupus. I can't run to my doctor’s office for a shot of rocephin in my hip and expect to be all better in 7-10 days.
There isn't a cure for Lupus and there are very few treatments specifically for this disease. We get a hodge podge of medications and treatments from other diseases to help us fight our disease. For example Cytoxan is a chemotherapy used to treat Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, Lung cancer, breast cancer, and reproductive organ cancers. Cytoxan is also used to treat Lupus Nephritis; it can be taken orally or given intravenously. Methotrexate is another drug that is used both as a treatment for cancer and a treatment for Lupus and other autoimmune diseases. In autoimmune diseases it is used to treat inflammatory arthritis.
Living with Lupus is not easy but having support and understanding from family and friends helps each of us. Please don't make assumptions about or believe in the myths that are out there about Lupus. Instead find out the facts about Lupus. Visit the Lupus Foundation of America site (www.lupus.org) or the Lupus Alliance of America site (www.lupusalliance.org).
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