E-Magazine Addresses Contemporary, Real-world Issues and Provides Practical Information of Interest to People Living with Hemophilia
MONTVILLE, N.J. -- (BUSINESS WIRE) --
Bayer HealthCare today launched Frankly.net, a candid, interactive online magazine that was created to serve as a trusted resource on real-life issues of concern to teenagers and young men living with hemophilia worldwide. Frankly.net aims to bridge information gaps and connect with young people living with this condition, addressing contemporary, provocative topics that adolescents and young adults commonly face, while offering factual information related to hemophilia.
Approximately 400,000 people around the world, nearly all of them male, have hemophilia, a rare genetic blood clotting disorder, which can cause spontaneous bleeding, especially into the muscles, joints or internal organs. While adolescence can be a challenging rite-of-passage, the transition into adulthood is even more taxing for young men with hemophilia due to challenges imposed by their condition. Proper treatment coupled with a healthy lifestyle, however, can enable them to reach their career and personal goals. Teens and young adults should confer with their healthcare provider prior to making any lifestyle changes that could impact the treatment or management of their disease.
"Having lived with hemophilia my entire life, I know first-hand that it can be daunting, especially during the teenage and young adult years, as there are many issues we face that can be hard to discuss with family, friends and healthcare providers," said Roy Kaczmarek, member of the Frankly.net advisory board. "This new e-magazine offers candid information on relevant topics, including how to tell your partner you have hemophilia, ways to broaden your athletic routine while managing your disease, and coping with emotional issues, to name a few. I look forward to using it on a regular basis."
Sponsored by Bayer HealthCare, Frankly.net includes tips on how young men living with hemophilia can make more informed, confident decisions about life. The innovative resource sheds light on a variety of 'hot' topics, including sex and relationships, health and fitness, entertainment and lifestyle, and travel. Additionally, the "Everyday Heroes" section of the e-magazine features compelling profiles of teens and young adults across the globe living with hemophilia, highlighting how their personal experiences with the disease have empowered them to reach specific individual goals. Visitors also are encouraged to participate in interactive polls that appear throughout Frankly.net, which will help guide future content of the e-magazine.
In addition to the e-magazine, an informational booklet, Speaking Frankly About Hemophilia, is available for download on the Web site. It addresses sensitive themes that are of consequence to teens and young men living with hemophilia. Questions about body art, drugs and alcohol, emotional pain, and sex - as they relate to hemophilia - are answered in an easy-to-understand manner. The booklet also provides tips on how to broach some of these topics with a healthcare provider.
"It is our hope that Frankly.net will become a go-to resource for young men throughout the world with hemophilia, and we are very pleased to be launching this site on World Hemophilia Day, a special day that focuses on promoting awareness of bleeding disorders," said Michael E. Mathews, vice president and therapeutic area head, Hematology, Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals. "Bayer has always been a strong supporter of the hemophilia community, both locally and globally. Frankly.net is just the latest example of our commitment to providing innovative, yet practical solutions that help people with hemophilia successfully meet life's challenges."
The content on Frankly.net is determined by the Speaking Frankly About Hemophilia editorial board, a team of experts in the fields of healthcare, social work and patient advocacy, who possess a keen knowledge of hemophilia and have extensive experience in helping people manage the disease. The editorial board consists of two young men with severe hemophilia, a physician, a social worker who specializes in counseling patients with blood disorders and a clinical nurse consultant who invented a widely used hemophilia self-infusion training tool. The five members come from five countries around the globe: Australia, Israel, Peru, Sweden and the U.S.
To learn more about the Speaking Frankly campaign, e-magazine and booklet, visit http://frankly.net.
About Hemophilia A
Hemophilia A, also known as factor VIII deficiency or classic hemophilia, is largely an inherited bleeding disorder in which one of the proteins needed to form blood clots in the body is missing or reduced. Hemophilia A is the most common type of hemophilia and is characterized by prolonged or spontaneous bleeding, especially into the muscles, joints, or internal organs. Approximately 400,000 people around the world have hemophilia.
About Bayer HealthCare AG
Bayer HealthCare AG is one of the world's leading, innovative companies in the healthcare and medical products industry, and based in Leverkusen, Germany. The company combines the global activities of the Animal Health, Consumer Care, Diabetes Care, and Pharmaceuticals divisions. The Pharmaceuticals division is called Bayer Schering Pharmaceuticals except in the United States and Canada, where it is called Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals. The division comprises the following business units: Women's Healthcare, Diagnostic Imaging, General Medicine, which includes Cardiology, Primary Care, and Specialty Medicine, which includes Hematology, Oncology, and Multiple Sclerosis. Bayer HealthCare's aim is to discover and manufacture products that will improve human and animal health worldwide. The products enhance well-being and quality of life by diagnosing, preventing and treating diseases.
Forward-looking statements
This release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer Group or subgroup management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer's public reports which are available on the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.
CONTACT:
Bayer HealthCare
Joanne Marlin, +1-973-305-5383
joanne.marlin@bayer.com