Are You Rare?

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Are You Rare?

Are You Rare? is a public education campaign which aims to raise awareness about rare diseases. This is a campaign by Takeda Pharmaceuticals (Asia Pacific) Pte.

Ltd. with support from the Rare Disorders Society Singapore. In addition to raising awareness about rare diseases and accelerating the diagnosis of patients with Fabry disease and Gaucher disease, Are You Rare? aims to rally support for the rare disease community in Singapore. The content shared on this page is meant for audiences within Singapore only. Please note that Takeda's Symptom Matcher websites are not a tool for diagnosis. Only a trained and licensed healthcare professional is allowed to diagnose a patient. The Symptom Matcher websites are only meant to be used as a guide for patients to understand the symptoms of Fabry disease and Gaucher disease, and their likelihood of having these diseases, based on the completed self-assessment questionnaire. DISCLAIMER: THIS PAGE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained in this page are for informational purposes only. No material in this page is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read in this page.

07/01/2026

The road to a rare disease diagnosis can feel overwhelming—from concerns about treatment access and costs* to the uncertainty of family screening.† It is not uncommon to hesitate because of these barriers.

But clarity begins with action.

On average, patients wait for years and even as long as a decade‡ before receiving an accurate diagnosis. For rare conditions like Fabry, that delay can mean greater risks of kidney failure, heart disease, or stroke which can have lifelong consequences.^

Early diagnosis isn’t just important – it’s critical.

Don’t let uncertainty hold you back. Take the first step today with our Symptom Matcher tool at isitfabry.sg. To confirm the results, bring them to your healthcare professional. Act now.

28/10/2025

Would you rather know? Or remain deep in uncertainty?

Without clarity, patients and families often live in limbo. Testing sooner allows patients to anticipate challenges, explore treatment options earlier, and protect loved ones through family screening.

On average, patients with rare diseases wait more than ten years before receiving an accurate diagnosis.* Delaying tests for could mean waiting until it’s too late.

For rare diseases like Fabry, delaying puts you and your loved ones at greater risk of irreversible complications such as kidney failure, heart disease, and stroke.†

Are you experiencing burning sensations on your hands and feet or shortness of breath and fatigue for unknown reasons? ‡

Take the first step today with our Symptom Matcher tool at www.isitabry.sg. To confirm the results, bring them to your healthcare professional.

19/02/2025

Not every disability is visible. With over 7000 types of rare diseases* globally, many journeys are challenging and unseen, but its collective impact is far-reaching and should never be ignored.

This , we stand in solidarity with the millions of individuals and families affected by these often-overlooked conditions. †

Show your support by participating in Rare Disorders Society (Singapore) Carry Hope 2025 activities or donating towards the initiative. Every step, every contribution brings us closer to a future where no one faces rare diseases alone. Visit https://rdss.org.sg/ to learn more.

[*] Boycott KM et al. Am J Hum Genet. 2017; 100(5): 695–705.
[†] Global Data Access for Solving Rare Disease: A Health Economics Value Framework. World Economic Forum.

This video was recorded when the patient was 12 years old.

C-ANPROM/SG/GDG/0001 Feb 2025

24/01/2025

Diagnosing and managing Fabry, a rare disease, require more than just recognizing the symptoms of burning sensations, breathlessness and fatigue*.

It calls for a collaborative effort between you and professionals such as genetic counsellors, specialists, and physicians. Each of us plays a crucial role in ensuring an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment plan.

Reaching out to professionals can go a long way in ensuring you have the right tools for effective care in the long term.

If you or someone you know might be displaying signs of Fabry, take the next step by visiting www.areyourare.sg. To confirm the results, bring them to your healthcare professional.

11/10/2024

Beyond their physical symptoms, Fabry patients often have to deal with cynism and disbelief towards their condition.* For many, it’s an experience that affects almost every aspect of everyday life. And this concerns everyone, from patients to undiagnosed individuals, families, and caregivers.

So, what can we do? The first crucial step is to seek certainty.

If you or someone you care for is experiencing symptoms such as burning sensations in the hands and feet, breathlessness and fatigue†, use our online symptom matcher tool at www.areyourare.sg to see whether it could be Fabry. To confirm the results, bring them to your healthcare professional.

30/04/2024

Even if we know the names of more than 7000+ rare diseases*, patients continue to be misdiagnosed due to a lack of awareness towards these diseases—some for more than 7 years! †,‡

This Awareness Month, join us in spreading awareness about this commonly misdiagnosed^ yet disease. The journey towards diagnosis and effective management for those with Fabry can be long and gruelling for all involved—patients, families and caregivers, and each of us can do our part to raise awareness.

Each moment delaying appropriate treatment could lead to more complications.§ The first step in the right direction is now just clicks away at your fingertips.

Visit www.isitfabry.sg and use the online symptom matcher tool with your loved ones today. To confirm the results, bring them to your healthcare professional.

29/04/2024

Here’s a statistic that hits close to home: Approximately 1 in 20 people will be affected by a rare disease at some point in their life,* and it’s not uncommon for patients to often endure for as long as 7 years before diagnosis! †,‡

Could there be a chance that you might be part of this statistic? Are you or your loved one experiencing unexplained symptoms?

This Awareness Month, join us in spreading awareness about this commonly underdiagnosed disease.^ The key is to persist with the belief that each step brings us closer to the answers we seek.

Take proactive steps with friends and loved ones to break this cycle today. Visit www.isitfabry.sg and use our online symptom matcher tool. To confirm the results, bring them to your healthcare professional.

04/04/2024

is an inherited disorder* that can be passed down through multiple generations of carriers within the family.

Even if carriers do not express symptoms, they can still pass the disease to the next generation.†

If you know anyone in your family with a history of or symptoms similar to Gaucher disease, it is crucial for you to assess the likelihood of being a carrier or someone who might be potentially affected by the disease.

Visit www.areyourare.sg to use our online symptom matcher tool now.

To confirm the results, bring them to your healthcare professional.

28/03/2024

Here’s one fact about Gaucher disease: It is an inherited disorder* that can be passed down through multiple generations of carriers within the family.†

Given the common nature of the signs and symptoms associated with this disease, seeking certainty can be a daily struggle.

Know anyone in your family with a history of or symptoms similar to ? Visit www.areyourare.sg to use our online symptom matcher tool now.

To confirm the results, bring them to your healthcare professional.

07/03/2024

For rare disease patients, it is not uncommon to feel alone in their journey. The stigma of seeking help or the invisibility of their conditions for some patients make it difficult for others to understand their struggles.

But, a holistic support system exists ranging from hospital genetic counsellors, genetic nurses and the Rare Diseases Society Singapore (RDSS). Each of these provide support to both rare disease patients and their families to make this journey a little brighter.

To find out more about rare diseases, visit www.areyourare.sg where you can understand your likelihood of having Fabry or Gaucher disease with our Symptom Matcher tool. To confirm diagnosis and treatment, bring the result to your healthcare professional.

Disclaimer: This video depicts a hypothetical patient and represents a hypothetical patient case only.

C-ANPROM/SG/FAB/0104 Feb 2024

29/02/2024

This, is Teo. A 49-year-old family man who has always led an active lifestyle. This changed when unexplained symptoms he has been experiencing since childhood worsened. His hands and feet burned, his joints hurt. And now, he can’t even head downstairs to get a cup of kopi without feeling out of breath.

The journey to find the cause of his symptoms was a tedious one. It was only after multiple visits to doctors and specialists that he was finally referred to a genetic doctor who diagnosed him with Fabry Disease – a rare condition that affects a diverse range of organs and functions, including the heart, kidneys, brain and nervous system.*

What exactly is Fabry Disease? Watch the video to find out more.

Visit www.isitfabry.sg and use our online symptom matcher tool now to understand your likelihood of having Fabry. To confirm diagnosis and treatment, bring the result to your healthcare professional.

*Michaud, M et. Al (2020). When and How to Diagnose Fabry Disease in Clinical Practice. The American Journal of the Medical Sciences, doi:10.1016/j.amjms.2020.07.011

Disclaimer: This video depicts a hypothetical patient and represents a hypothetical patient case only.

C-ANPROM/SG/FAB/0104 Feb 2024

19/02/2024

💙 : It's not just patients with rare diseases who face challenges. Caregivers also bear the weight of mental, emotional, social, and financial burdens, especially when they tirelessly seek for the right diagnosis and treatment*. Community support is vital for patients and their families, providing understanding and a sense of belonging, crucial for mental well-being.

Want to make a difference? Join in the campaign, organized by the Rare Disorders Society (Singapore) (RDSS), from 25 February to 1 March 2024. Capture the beauty of iconic buildings illuminated in colors symbolizing the global rare community across Singapore and share your snaps on your social media. Don't forget to tag and use the hashtags and

Together, we can show our unwavering support for the rare disease community. 💚 Let's spread love and awareness.

*Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases 2022, Carer burden in rare inherited diseases.
C-ANPROM/SG/RDG/0010 Feb 2024

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