I am quite aware of what I can no longer do, and grieve these losses. I also have found that focusing on what I CAN DO encourages me, and gives me hope and purpose. My sister Kyle and yours truly. My…
If you’ve recently been diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis, there are probably loads of questions running through your mind. Here are some of the most important questions you should ask your doctor according to the American Lung Association. 1. “What is pulmonary fibrosis?” Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) literally means scarring of the lungs.
Many of you who have been following my column know that I was lucky enough to return to Australia this past fall for three weeks. “Lucky”… it is such a funny word, because while some may say I was lucky to get to travel across the world, others…
An 84-year-old man diagnosed with an acute exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) was successfully treated with Ofev (nintedanib) without antibiotics or steroids, according to a case study detailed in the journal Respirology Case Reports. Ofev, an approved treatment in the United States and EU, is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that works to…
Researchers identified a specific cytokine called interleukin-13 (IL-13) as a critical mediator of radiation lung injury, and provided evidence that therapeutic targeting of IL-13 may significantly lessen radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis. The study, “IL-13 is a therapeutic target in radiation lung injury,” was published in the journal…
A diagnosis of pulmonary fibrosis can be terrifying and confusing and often takes a long time to come to terms with. In this video from EmpowHER, pulmonary fibrosis patient Dyane talks about what she most fears about the disease and how PF has impacted her life. Find…
The world of science and medicine never stands still. Research constantly pushes things further along–creating, developing, and fine-tuning treatments so they are more effective, and working to establish why diseases happen and how they progress. Thankfully, pulmonary fibrosis research is also constantly moving forward. According to breathingmatters.co.uk, the Centre for Inflammation and Tissue Repair…
In a small study with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients, alterations in the patients’ respiratory microbiome led to changes in systematic responses that may promote injury, contributing to disease progression. The study, “Host-Microbial Interactions in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis,” was published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care…
Anyone with a chronic illness will testify that they spend a lot of time in the doctor’s office having blood work done. Which means getting pricked with a lot of needles, which can sometimes take two or three (or more) attempts to find a compliant vein. Here are some…
The prognosis for older idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients was the same as that of younger ones in a recent study assessing relative survival rates, suggesting age might not be a factor. Results of the study, “Relationship Between Survival And Age In Patients With Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis,” were published in the…
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