Advantage Hers Australia
Advantage Hers Australia - Be informed. Be inspired. Be involved.
No woman living with a chronic inflammatory disease should let her condition get in the way of her dreams. Advantage Hers is a worldwide campaign by global biopharmaceutical leader UCB and partners including women with lived experience of chronic inflammatory diseases including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA).
Advantage Hers Conversations
Conversations continued
Watch and share this conversation with Suzie May and Jenna Martin who share their tips for women living with chronic inflammatory diseases. The conversation is supported by rheumatologist Professor Michelle Leech and hosted by Ash London.
Watch and share this conversation with Suzie May and Jenna Martin about the importance of asking for and accepting support when living with a chronic inflammatory disease. The conversation is supported by rheumatologist Professor Michelle Leech and hosted by Ash London.
In conversation
Watch and share Australian Advantage Hers Ambassador Caroline Wozniacki and Sarah Rowan’s conversation with Dr Ginni Mansberg as they discuss their personal journeys with rheumatoid arthritis and hear how Australian women with chronic inflammatory conditions approach their own game plan.
Voices of Advantage Hers
Suzie May is a mother of two, a legal consultant and health advocate. Since being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at age 27, she has dedicated time to raising awareness and educating others about living with chronic inflammatory diseases.
To read Suzie’s story in more detail, click here
Mother and editor, Jenna Martin, developed rheumatoid arthritis as a new mum. She is passionate about encouraging others with chronic inflammatory diseases to trust their symptoms and form close relationships with their healthcare team.
To read Jenna’s story in more detail click here
Australian Open 2018 winner, Caroline Wozniacki is the highest-ranking female athlete known to have been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis whilst still playing professional tennis.
To read Caroline’s story in more detail click here
Professor Michelle Leech is a rheumatologist and Head of the Rheumatoid Arthritis Clinic at Monash Health. She is also Deputy Dean of Medicine at Monash University’s Faculty
of Medicine.
Ash London, is a mother and Australian TV and radio personality. Ash hosts the podcast ‘new mum who dis’ where she is joined by notable parents, experts, friends and strangers off the street who all share their perspective to keep living their best life while raising a family.
Ginni Mansberg is a General Practitioner and Australian TV presenter. Ginni has also worked in the media as a columnist, author and former political advisor.
Be informed. Be inspired. Be involved.
Advantage Hers Australia
Inspired by the experiences of Caroline Wozniacki, Suzie May and Jenna Martin, and how they live to gain an advantage over their rheumatoid arthritis, Advantage Hers provides the tools to help you to build your own treatment and management plan (‘game plan’) with your healthcare provider and take a more active role in your care.
Women with chronic inflammatory diseases face unique challenges compared to men with the same conditions. These include a longer delay in diagnosis, higher disease activity and concerns related to family planning and pregnancy.1-3
Many women experience unplanned pregnancy, which can occur despite using contraception.4 For women with chronic inflammatory diseases, unplanned pregnancy can cause additional stress and fear around their own health and/or the health of their unborn child, yet many do not actively discuss family planning with their healthcare team.2
Advantage Hers seeks to show women that living with chronic inflammatory disease does not need to hold them back and that they should continue to reach for their dreams. It encourages women to support each other and share their stories. It empowers women to seek the support they need to live the lives they want.
Chronic inflammatory diseases in Australia
Living with a chronic inflammatory disease (also known as an autoimmune disease), such as rheumatoid arthritis, axial spondyloarthritis, psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis can be difficult for anyone. These chronic conditions can place substantial physical and emotional strains on those living with them.1,3,5-7
Nearly 500,000 Australians have been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, a condition which is more commonly diagnosed in women than men.7 The number of Australians living with rheumatoid arthritis is projected to rise to more than half a million by 2030.8
Ankylosing spondylitis affects about 1–2% of the Australian population. The disease usually first appears between the ages of 15–40 years.9
Around 30,000 Australians are affected by non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA). One or two out of every 10 people diagnosed with nr-axSpA will progress to ankylosing spondylitis within a few years.10
Psoriatic arthritis affects around 200,000 Australians. Three out of every 10 people with the skin condition psoriasis develop psoriatic arthritis.11
To read more about living with chronic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis in Australia, visit the websites for Arthritis Australia, Creaky Joints Australia or Musculoskeletal Australia.
Advantage Hers stories
Resource center
Creating a game plan
When living with chronic inflammatory diseases sometimes you will have the advantage, and at other times your disease will.
If you want help in creating your own game plan, download Caroline’s helpful tip sheets. In addition, a Health Team Discussion Guide is available to help you get the information you need from your doctor and team. Together, you can have an active and informed role in shared decision-making about your care.
Want to know more about chronic inflammatory diseases in general? Click here for more detailed information about rheumatoid arthritis, axial spondyloarthritis, psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis.
