By definition, a progressive illness is one that worsens over time. When I was diagnosed in 2016 with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a life-threatening and progressive lung disease, I was told by a pulmonologist that simple tasks would become difficult as the fibrosis in my lungs worsened. Before IPF,…
How Pulmonary Fibrosis Complicates Simple Appointments and Everyday Tasks
The levels of transforming growth factor-beta-induced protein (TGFBI), a molecule involved in lung development and cancer, are significantly increased in cellular and rodent models of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a study showed. TGFBI was also found to mediate the pro-scarring effects of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) — a protein that plays…
My inspiration for this column came from looking out my window, which was built high up and close to the ceiling. I call it “God’s Window,” because every morning, I can look up to the heavens, and every night, I can see the stars. It’s beautiful when the sun is…
If you have spent any time on the internet, you have likely found some incredibly useful, accurate information. At the same time, you likely have encountered misleading claims, missed an opportunity to have large sums of money transferred to you, and received some bad advice. The ability to exchange information…
The risk of future lung-function decline and mortality in people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) can be accurately predicted by a deep learning computer algorithm that evaluates CT scans, a study shows. Accurately determining the risk of progression would support early intervention before irreversible damage has occurred, the researchers…
One of the most common symptoms of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is the chronic cough. While patients may have other characteristics of a cough, such as bringing up phlegm, most of the ones I know living with this cruel and life-threatening lung disease have a cough that is…
The small molecule TH5487 safely and effectively treated pulmonary fibrosis (PF) in a mouse model, a study reported. Although TH5487 is known to block the activity of the DNA repair enzyme OGG1, its anti-fibrotic effects occurred, in part, by reducing the production of OGG1 itself. According to researchers, these…
My 2017 diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis changed all our plans. Over the course of our journey, my wife, Susan, found herself responsible for many tasks I’d normally take on inside and outside of our home. Susan has told many people over time that if she asked me…
The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation’s PFF Care Center Network (CCN) now includes 74 medical centers in 34 U.S. states, after six more sites specializing in pulmonary fibrosis (PF) diagnosis, treatment, and patient support joined the nationwide program. “Our new PFF Care Center Network sites offer much-needed comprehensive care for…
My friend Chase and I sat in my treehouse one sunny afternoon looking across the arid valley between my childhood home and the towering crest of the Sierra Nevada. We were 10. We noticed a plume of smoke rising from the hills, which soon turned into a blaze that destroyed…
