International Mastocytosis and Mast Cell Diseases Awareness Day is held annually on 20 October. 

Look at our awareness activities throughout Australia on 20 October 2023 – #SpotOurSpots!

The Mastocytosis and Mast Cell Diseases Awareness Day aims to spread the word of a family of diseases that range from life threatening forms to more benign forms. It aims to raise awareness for the need of more accurate diagnostics, better treatments, further investments in research… A day that will lift up the hopes of mast cell patients all over the world in dreaming for a brighter future.

This awareness day has been the result of a collaborative decision made by 24 mast cell disease advocacy groups, including TAMS. The first one was commemorated in 2018. It represents the one day in the year to direct attention to these rare diseases. A day that will bring mast cell organisations together to highlight the impact of the diseases in patients’ lives and the importance of research and education in the acceptance of diversity.

Working in unison with the medical community, our purpose is to create CHANGE:

• CHANGE through Research.
• CHANGE through Improved Treatments.
• CHANGE through Education.
• CHANGE through Understanding.

We encourage everybody to join and support us in the commemoration of this day, together we can make the difference.

The Awareness Day website connects researchers, physicians, and patients from around the world to share their support contacts and treatment information and, hopefully, elevate care for everyone to a whole new level. Although in some countries, people may take for granted the many informational and social resources, there are many countries where such opportunities and access to care are more limited.

If you’d like a photo of your Awareness Day activity included on this worldwide site, please email it to info@mastocytosis.org.au for TAMS to submit to the international group. (PLEASE NOTE: please be sure to get signed photo permissions from everyone in the picture.)

The awareness day slogan, “Connecting to Change the Future – Our Future,” was born out of our aim to connect people around the world. It speaks to the many scientific connections that researchers make during study, the personal connections patients make to support each other, and the professional connections that physicians make to offer the best care possible.

The awareness day logo was intentionally crafted to include both “mastocytosis” and “mast cell diseases” in the same size font, for equal representation. The mast cell icon depicted has “receptors” and seems to be spilling its contents during degranulation. The colour purple was chosen to represent the colour of the stain that researchers use in their slides.

The awareness day ribbon has dots to represent the spots/hives/rashes that many mast cell patients deal with.

Let’s celebrate the opportunity to work together for a healthier future for all of us!

Feel free to share TAM’s Awareness Day social media post to all of your friends – check out the TAMS Facebook page on 20 October to share.