The Foundation was incorporated in the state of Massachusetts as a non-profit organization and is an Associate Member of NORD, the National Organization for Rare Disorders. The CSRF has a Medical Advisory Board consisting of very experienced surgeons and endocrinologists who are world renowned for their expertise on Cushing's. Cushing's syndrome and Cushing's disease are caused by the excess production of the steroid hormone, cortisol. These relatively rare disorders can be physically and emotionally devastating to the patient. Most patients endure years of symptoms prior to obtaining a diagnosis and recovery often requires a substantial period of time.
Patients can gain insight and support through conversations with other patients.
Two major objectives of the CSRF are to put patients in contact with other patients and to facilitate the sharing of information between members. These are partially accomplished through a quarterly newsletter that includes letters from new, recovering, and cured Cushing's patients, personal stories, suggestions on coping with a long term illness, articles, and answers to medical questions by a member of our Medical Advisory Board. An overall objective of the foundation is to increase the awareness of Cushing's in the medical community and the general public. By doing so, perhaps the time required to obtain a diagnosis can be decreased. Other long term objectives include support of medical research and publication of a book about Cushing's.