April is Donate Life Month. I have struggled to think of something new to say about organ donation. Everything I’ve written for Pulmonary Fibrosis News has been inspired by, or is in response to, organ donation. I’ve talked about both pre- and post-transplant challenges, caregiver struggles, grief, celebration, and…
In very rare cases, a tuberculosis infection in people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and lung cancer may help activate the immune system and induce a spontaneous cancer remission, a case report suggests. While the patient in the study achieved complete cancer regression after treatment with standard first-line…
When I was growing up, my mom used to say, “Charlene, there is something to be said about routine!” Usually she was referring to my sleeping habits: I would stay up far too late and then be tired the next day. She always told me that if I got into…
COVID-19 has been reported to cause lung fibrosis in some people, but the type of fibrosis that develops is distinct from what generally occurs in those with interstitial lung disease (ILD), according to a press release issued by the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF). COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019)…
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has waived all requirements for in-person testing and signature at delivery for supplemental oxygen during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF) is urging patients, healthcare providers, and oxygen suppliers to comply with the new CMS guidelines,…
People with pulmonary fibrosis (PF) and other chronic lung disorders should strictly limit social contact during the global spread of the respiratory illness COVID-19, a pulmonary expert said. Rahat Hussain, MD, a pulmonologist and assistant professor of internal medicine at the University of Texas (UT) Health Science Center…
Living through a pandemic means that people around the world are having new and uncomfortable experiences. Many, including me, are afraid. We fear for our health and for our loved ones. We fear for our economy, finances, businesses, and futures. I don’t want to diminish or ignore those fears, but…
A class of molecules called matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue metalloproteinase inhibitors (TIMPs) show promise as biomarkers of the presence of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), according to a new study. MMPs and TIMPs are present at elevated levels in the bloodstream of IPF patients, and…
The news of organ transplants being paused at several medical centers around the world amid the COVID-19 pandemic is deeply troubling. As a patient living with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), I’m concerned, because ultimately, a lung transplant will be the only thing to save my life. I also…
First, the bad news: If you’re one of the 30 million or so Americans with a rare disease, you probably have lower immunity to the novel coronavirus than most people. Now, the good news: You already know how to face loneliness and adversity — qualities that make you far stronger…
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