The Pernicious Anaemia Society

02/03/2026

Our Support Group Coordinator, Benita, will be holding an online Support Group Meeting with a PA bingo! on Saturday, 14 March at 11.00.

Whilst Benita is based in Sussex, you don’t have to live in that area to attend. It doesn’t matter where you live as this is a Zoom meeting and all members are welcome to attend.

https://pernicious-anaemia-society.org/event/east-sussex-members-support-group-meeting-2/

PAS support group meetings are an excellent way to meet other members of the society, share experiences, learn of how PA has impacted on their lives and how they have developed coping strategies to deal with the ongoing symptoms in a welcoming and friendly environment.

Hope you can make it!

PAS support group meetings are an excellent way to meet other members of the society, share experiences, learn of how PA has impacted on their lives and how they have developed coping strategies

02/03/2026

Have you registered to attend this online Support Group? It doesn’t matter where you live, members just need to click on the link below to register and will be given an access link to join the meeting. Come along and meet others members.

Our Support Group Coordinator, Benita, will be holding an online Support Group Meeting with a PA bingo! on Saturday, 14 March at 11.00.

Whilst Benita is based in Sussex, you don’t have to live in that area to attend. It doesn’t matter where you live as this is a Zoom meeting and all members are welcome to attend.

https://pernicious-anaemia-society.org/event/east-sussex-members-support-group-meeting-2/

PAS support group meetings are an excellent way to meet other members of the society, share experiences, learn of how PA has impacted on their lives and how they have developed coping strategies to deal with the ongoing symptoms in a welcoming and friendly environment.

Hope you can make it!

28/02/2026

🛒 When you shop with PAS, you’re doing more than just making a purchase - you’re supporting resources that make a real difference.

Our webinars help you better understand Pernicious Anaemia (PA) by providing expert-led guidance for anyone affected — whether you’re newly diagnosed, a family member, or a healthcare professional. They offer:

✔ In-depth knowledge about PA symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment
✔ Practical advice on managing day-to-day life with PA
✔ The latest updates on research and medical advances
✔ A chance to connect with others who understand the journey
By joining or purchasing access to these webinars, you’re not only gaining valuable insights but also directly supporting PAS’s vital work. Every contribution helps us:
✔ Keep our helpline running to provide personalised support
✔ Fund research into lesser-known symptoms like iron deficiency
✔ Organise more support groups and educational events across the UK and beyond
✔ Advocate for better diagnosis and treatment through national policy change

Plus, you can support us in other ways - by exploring our shop’s range of awareness items and eco-friendly eCards, all designed to help raise funds and spread knowledge.

🎁 So whether you’re learning, gifting, or both, you’re making a real difference for the PA community.

🛍️ Explore our webinars and shop: https://shop.pernicious-anaemia-society.org/

27/02/2026

If you have PA and would like support or to chat with others who have this illness, please join the Scotland support group online on Friday, 20 March at 7:00pm.

This meeting will feature an informal presentation for the newly diagnosed.

https://pernicious-anaemia-society.org/event/scotland-online-support-group-meeting/

These meetings are an excellent way to meet other members of the society, share experiences, learn of how PA has impacted on their lives and how they have developed coping strategies to deal with the ongoing symptoms in a welcoming and friendly environment.

Whilst Karen is based in Scotland, you don’t have to live in that area to attend. It doesn’t matter where you live as this is a Zoom meeting and all members are welcome to attend.

Hope you can make it!

27/02/2026

🌟 Your Membership with the Pernicious Anaemia Society! 🌟

Annual Membership - £20/year: Unlock a world of ongoing benefits! After your first year, we make it seamless—your membership renews automatically for just £10 annually. The hassle-free way to stay connected and supported. Cancel anytime in your membership account.

Lifetime Membership - £125: Experience the gold membership journey! Become a cherished Lifetime Member and Supporter of the Society. Your generosity comes with perks—receive an exclusive Welcome Pack, complete with a copy of the former Chairman’s book and unique PAS merchandise. It's a lifetime of connection, support, and gratitude.

✨ Why Join?
🌍 International Representation: We are the sole international charity advocating for Pernicious Anaemia patients.

🧪 Research Advocacy: Your support helps commission and fund crucial research.

🤝 Informed Community: Benefit from a community of knowledgeable members actively contributing to research.

🏥 Healthcare Collaboration: We value healthcare providers and strive to collaborate for enhanced patient quality of life, focusing on improved diagnosis and treatment.

🔗 Join us now, Your support makes a significant impact: https://pernicious-anaemia-society.org/member/

Support our charity by becoming a member or donating, and follow our page for more insights and useful information about PA!

26/02/2026

Self-Advocacy: Tools That Can Make a Difference

Living with Pernicious Anaemia often means learning how to speak up in appointments where time is short and symptoms are complex.

From PAS member patient experiences, a few themes come up again and again as being helpful guidance:
• Preparing for GP appointments with clear symptom notes and timelines
• Communicating symptoms concisely, not allowing focus solely on test results
• Knowing when to ask about further tests or referrals if symptoms persist
• Understanding when to be persistent and finding ways around feeling dismissed

Self-advocacy isn’t about being difficult. It’s about making sure your concerns are heard and understood.

PAS resources are designed to help patients feel informed, confident, and supported in these conversations.

🔗 Find our blogs and resources at http://pernicious-anaemia-society.org/

24/02/2026

Pernicious Anaemia Is an Autoimmune Disease – Why That Distinction Matters

Pernicious Anaemia (PA) is not simply a vitamin deficiency. It is an autoimmune condition that affects the body’s ability to absorb vitamin B12. That distinction is important, because it shapes how PA is recognised, understood, and managed over time.

PA cant be treated as simply as "just" B12 deficiency, key differences can be missed. In PA, the immune system targets intrinsic factor or stomach cells, meaning B12 absorption is impaired regardless of diet. It is a lifelong autoimmune condition that needs monitoring and ongoing care.

Understanding PA as autoimmune also helps explain why it is a long-term condition. Management is ongoing and needs to take account of symptoms, neurological risk, and individual response to treatment, rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all approach.

At a wider system level, misunderstanding PA can lead to delayed diagnosis, inappropriate reassurance, and inconsistent care. That is why the Pernicious Anaemia Society continues to focus on education, research, and awareness that reflects the true nature of the condition.

Clear understanding leads to safer care, better outcomes, and fewer patients falling through the cracks.

🔗 Learn more at http://pernicious-anaemia-society.org/

23/02/2026

There are several common misconceptions about Pernicious Anaemia (PA) so it is important to be aware of the facts.

1️⃣ Pernicious Anaemia only affects older people. This is not true. People of all ages, and this includes young children, have been diagnosed with PA.

2️⃣ You can get enough B12 from your diet. PA is an auto-immune disease. If you have PA, no matter what you eat, you cannot absorb sufficient B12 from your food. You will require lifelong vitamin B12 therapy usually through regular injections.

3️⃣ Pernicious Anaemia is not a serious condition. PA is a serious condition and, without the correct treatment it is debilitating and can be life-threatening. If you have been B12 deficient for a long time recovery may also take some time., Neurological symptoms resulting from B12 deficiency may take several months or even years to resolve completely

4️⃣ Once you've had your injection you will be fine. This 'one size fits all' regime is not true. Whilst some people manage perfectly well on 3 monthly injections, others find their symptoms returning long before their next injection is due. The clinical picture is the most important factor in assessing the frequency of treatment and serum blood tests and further testing of B12 levels are not required once Vitamin B12 treatment has commenced.

Support our charity by becoming a member or donating, and follow our page for more insights and useful information about PA!

23/02/2026

Our Support Group Coordinator, Benita, will be holding an online Support Group Meeting with a PA bingo! on Saturday, 14 March at 11.00.

Whilst Benita is based in Sussex, you don’t have to live in that area to attend. It doesn’t matter where you live as this is a Zoom meeting and all members are welcome to attend.

https://pernicious-anaemia-society.org/event/east-sussex-members-support-group-meeting-2/

PAS support group meetings are an excellent way to meet other members of the society, share experiences, learn of how PA has impacted on their lives and how they have developed coping strategies to deal with the ongoing symptoms in a welcoming and friendly environment.

Hope you can make it!

20/02/2026

🩸 Vitamin B12 deficiency isn't just about diet! 🩸 While many associate B12 deficiency with poor nutrition, a significant number of cases are due to non-dietary causes, such as Pernicious Anaemia. This can lead to life-threatening complications if not diagnosed and treated early. Understanding the root cause is crucial.

Join the Pernicious Anaemia Society to support vital research, raise awareness, and ensure that everyone has access to the right information and care.

👉 Head to our website to learn more: https://pernicious-anaemia-society.org/

Support our charity by becoming a member or donating regularly. Follow our page for more insights and useful information about PA!

19/02/2026

🧪 When Blood Tests Fail Patients: Why B12 Levels Alone Don’t Tell the Whole Story

For many people, a “normal” vitamin B12 result is taken as reassurance that everything is fine.
But for those with pernicious anaemia, blood numbers alone can be misleading.

🔍 The limits of serum B12 testing
Serum B12 measures what is circulating in the blood – not what is actually reaching and being used by the cells. It does not reliably reflect absorption, functional deficiency, or neurological involvement.

🧠 Why results can look normal or even high
People with pernicious anaemia often have absorption failure due to autoimmune damage to the stomach. Supplements or injections can raise serum levels without resolving symptoms, leading to false reassurance while deficiency at tissue level continues.

📌 Why PAS focuses on more than numbers
PAS consistently emphasises:
symptoms and how they evolve
risk factors such as autoimmune disease or family history
clinical context and patient experience

Because pernicious anaemia is a lifelong condition, management should be guided by symptoms and wellbeing, not just lab thresholds.

⚠️ The impact of false reassurance
When symptoms are dismissed because blood tests appear “normal,” diagnosis is delayed, treatment may be inadequate, and the risk of irreversible neurological damage increases.
Listening to patients, understanding the limits of testing, and applying guidelines properly all matter.

🔗 Learn more at http://pernicious-anaemia-society.org/