Osteoporosis affects 1 in 3 women and 1 in 12 men and results in bones becoming so porous that they can break easily. However the disease is largely preventable and if you already have osteoporosis it can be treated to try to halt further bone loss and reduce the risk of broken bones.
The National Osteoporosis Society (NOS) is the only national charity dedicated to improving the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of this fragile bone disease. The NOS offers support to people with osteoporosis, their families and carers, through a range of detailed information booklets, a national telephone helpline staffed by osteoporosis nurse advisors on 01761 472721 and a network of over 120 support groups across the UK.
You can contact the NOS headquarters in Bath on 01761 471771; email info@nos.org.uk or visit the website at www.nos.org.uk
The Cheltenham NOS Support Group is one of over 120 such groups and meets to share information, help raise funds for osteoporosis research and offer support for local people. To contact the Cheltenham NOS Support group you can call 01242 515891 or 01242 244867. Alternatively email info@cheltnos.fsnet.co.uk
Although called the Cheltenham Support Group the area represented is the whole of Gloucestershire, as this is currently the only support group operating in the county. This is a large geographic area and currently has over 470 members.
History
and achievements of the Cheltenham NOS Support Group
Planned
events for 2004 --- updated 18 January 2004
The National Institute for Clinical Excellence has recently
produced a report on its decisions regarding the treatment of
osteoporosis. This is a preliminary report with some rather disturbing
findings bought about by their consideration of the "cost
effectiveness" of the various drugs involved. You can view
this report here http://www.nice.org.uk/article.asp?a=97559
and the comments by the NOS here http://www.nos.org.uk/nicecomments.asp