The month of May is National Neurofibromatosis (NF) Awareness Month.
NF is a genetic disorder that causes tumors to grow on nerve tissues. They can grow anywhere in your nervous system, including on your brain and spinal cord.
It can also cause optic glioma, and Lisch nodules, bone deformities, learning disabilities, fine and gross motor skills delays, and multiple Café au lait spots.
There are 3 types of NF. NF 1, NF 2, and Schwannomatosis. NF 1 is the most common and affects 1 in 3000 to 4000 people, of all races and genders.
50 percent of the people with NF inherited it and a spontaneous mutation on a very-long arm of chromosome- 17 results in the other 50 percent. Currently there is no cure for NF.
Sheila Zavorka Lakehills
