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The Balancing Act's Ongoing “Behind the Mystery: Rare and Genetic Diseases” Series Features Rare Disease Day Episode on February 28th

February 27, 2017

One in every ten Americans has a rare disease.  It’s a startling statistic, but it’s one that will help even the healthiest of individuals realize how random the genetic lottery really is.
 
This is also why the patients of the rare disease community have chosen the rarest day of the year to spread awareness. On the last day in February, whether a leap day or not, it is their day to celebrate, educate and inspire. On February 28th Behind The Mystery: Rare & Genetic celebrates World Rare Disease Day, in a show dedicated to rare and genetic disease awareness.
 
Behind the Mystery: Rare & Genetic is going into it’s fifth season of programming, highlighting the rare and orphan disease community on our morning show, The Balancing Act, airing nationally on Lifetime Television. 
 
In a special episode, the program will be covering rare diseases Neuroendocrine Tumors (NETS) and X-Linked Hypophosphatemia, and will be welcoming back Ilana Jacqueline from Global Genes, and author of the upcoming book “Surviving And Thriving With Chronic Illness” as well as the star behind the informational blog www.letsfeelbetter.com
 
Ilana is the inspiration behind the series, as the daughter of TV producer Carri Levy.
 
“When Ilana first got sick, all I wanted to do was research, join communities and find other patients,” says Levy. “What I ended up discovering was there are over 7,000 different types of rare diseases—and that 30 million people are currently living with a rare disease in the US. There was a lot to learn.”
 
Levy found help from her co-producer, Molly Mager, whose personal connection to the rare disease world comes from having a brother with Acinar Cell Cystadenoma . They began to speak with pharmaceutical companies, disease foundations and patients about the best way to educate their audience.
 
“We want to break down these segments into ‘what is this disease?,’ ; ‘who gets it,’ and ‘what can be done about it?,” says Mager. “We’re speaking with the top players in the pharmaceutical industry and their lead scientists. One thing that rare disease patients need is hope—and we’re investigating what’s in the pipeline today that’s going to give us the answers tomorrow.”
 
To learn more about World Rare Disease Day please visit http://www.rarediseaseday.org/. To learn more about the upcoming segment and past Behind the Mystery segments please visit www.thebalancingact.com/rare and www.accesshealth.tv

About The Balancing Act

Entering its eighth season, The Balancing Act continues to empower women in all aspects of their lives. The mission is simple – to help today’s modern woman balance it all by bringing her positive solutions that enrich and empower her. Entertaining, educational and trusted by women, viewers can tune in to America’s premier morning show on weekday mornings, Monday through Friday, at 7:30 am (ET/PT) on Lifetime Television. For additional information or to view a segment visit: www.thebalancingact.com.

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