Boo! A diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) or any other interstitial lung disease (ILD) can be scary. With Halloween approaching, October seems like the perfect month to talk about why. When I was diagnosed with IPF in January 2017, I knew nothing about the disease, but I…
Make Every Breath Count – a Column by Samuel Kirton
I am two days into another trip around the sun. Can you believe it? I didn’t. I’m still not sure how I feel about it. On Sunday, Oct. 4, I turned 69. I was 59 when I was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in January 2017. I…
Raising awareness can take many forms, including education. September’s Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month (PFAM) is an opportunity to educate not only the pulmonary fibrosis (PF) and interstitial lung disease (ILD) communities, but also the general public about the condition. When I was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis…
Note: This column was updated Sept. 18, 2026, to correct that ILDs are restrictive diseases, while chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma are obstructive diseases. Because idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a diagnosis of exclusion, it’s easy to forget about all of the other related diseases that make up…
What do the following terms have in common: usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP), ground-glass opacity (GGO), fibrosis, and lung crackles, or rales? These terms, often associated with pulmonary fibrosis (PF), can be early indicators of the disease. When I was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary…
Have you ever glanced at the passenger-side mirror and noticed the message written on it? Objects are closer than they appear. The mirror makes objects appear farther away than they actually are. That warning summarizes my week. When I was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in January 2017,…
Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with various medications. Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a therapy. What do you do while you wait for your current condition to improve? Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve noticed…
In case you hadn’t noticed, I didn’t file a column last week. I missed you and feel like I need to explain. My body told me I needed to take a break. I had back-to-back medical appointments that left me wiped out, so I decided to listen to my body.
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is emerging as a “hot spot” for drug development research, according to the nonprofit CheckOrphan, which notes that “investor and industry interest is accelerating.” A May 2026 article on the organization’s website notes recent activity by Avalyn Pharma, which has secured $100 million in…
Rehabilitation from serious health setbacks is hard. This week has repeatedly proven that to me. Since being diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in January 2017, I’ve learned a lot about the disease. But I haven’t learned everything yet. During my IPF journey, I wasn’t hospitalized after my…
