MODESTO, CA, October 03, 2009
/24-7PressRelease/ -- The woman who inspired The Beatles' song Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds this week lost her fight against Lupus.
Lucy Vodden died at age 46 years after being diagnosed with lupus - which causes the body to attack itself.
Lucy, of Surbiton, Surrey, was a childhood friend of Julian Lennon - son of John.
At their nursery school, he drew a picture of her with diamond-shaped eyes surrounded by stars.
He showed his dad John Lennon, saying: "It's Lucy in the sky with diamonds."
Lupus symptoms include joint pain, exhaustion and skin rashes, but the illness can mimic other conditions such as a virus or depression, and so it is difficult to diagnose.
Lupus causes the immune system to wrongly attack the body, treating it like a foreign invader such as a bug or virus.
This can lead to crippling joint pain, skin problems and, in severe cases, organ failure.
The immune system has no concept between the good guys and the bad guys and will fight anything.
Lupus tends to emerge between the ages of 15 and 40, and nine out of ten cases are in women. Rare cases of males have been reported.
The disease is not contagious and can be triggered by a range of factors - including hormones, stress and sunlight.
Treatment includes drugs that dampen the immune system, such as anti- malarial drugs and steroids. In severe cases chemotherapy is used.
For information on Lupus or a Mixed Connective Tissue Disorder, see LupusMCTD.com
About Lupus MCTD
http://www.LupusMCTD.com founded in 2005 as a peer-to-peer endeavor run entirely by volunteers -- patients who are dedicated to providing information and support to people interested in Lupus and Mixed Connective Tissue Disorders.
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