When you're mention "agressive MS", I'm assuming that you mean Primary Progressive MS. Unfortunately that is agressive, and as far as I'm aware, the medications that so far have been made available to us (DMDs), don't treat that classification of MS. It's not a case of not diagnosing MS early enough, it's just that research has not yet found a drug to help those afflicted with PPMS.

Apparently the number of lesions one has doesn't have anything to do with the severity of the disease. I've read that's it's actually location of those lesions that have more of an impact.

We recently had a thread about this, but I can't remember it's name.....sorry! Maybe other members will and so be able to provide you with a link.

It seems that people with progressive MS don't have relapses...they just keep progressing. Please correct me MSers if I'm wrong here.

Why don't you just give her a call and apologise for not getting back to her. Say you had things on and it slipped your mind....or similar.

It's up to you whether or not you disclose your own MS after you've re-established contact. Remember that while it might give you a conversation topic, it might also be a downer for you if your friends are negative when they discuss the condition. Only you can judge that as you're the one who knows them best.

Good luck in whatever you choose to do.