Pulmonary Fibrosis Month Posted or Updated on 27 Aug 2024

Lanarkshire Pulmonary Fibrosis Support Group raises awareness of terminal lung-scarring disease

Thousands of people with the terminal lung-scarring disease pulmonary fibrosis are diagnosed late, reducing their life-expectancy, adversely affecting their quality of life and increasing their chances of hospitalisation.

During Pulmonary Fibrosis Month in September, the Lanarkshire Pulmonary Fibrosis Support Group will be supporting a national awareness-raising campaign by the charity Action for Pulmonary Fibrosis. It will help people spot early signs of the disease so that they can be diagnosed speedily and get access to vital drugs and therapies to help them live better and longer lives.

Support group members will be distributing information posters to: GP surgeries, Hospital Waiting Rooms, Community Centres, libraries, and other key locations highlighting the early symptoms to watch out for.

Common symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis are a persistent cough and increasing breathlessness.  These key symptoms can be confused with other diseases – like heart failure, bronchitis or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder - but if people have these symptoms we are asking to ‘think PF’ and mention it to a doctor or nurse.

Several research studies show that the longer people wait for diagnosis the worse their outcome is.  Early diagnoses and access to drugs which can hold back progression of the disease and other vital therapies can improve life expectancy by up to eighteen months. Currently around 5,000 people die every year in the UK from pulmonary fibrosis, more than from ovarian cancer and leukaemia. 

Tom Callaghan, Lanarkshire Pulmonary Fibrosis Support Group Leader, says:

“Pulmonary fibrosis is a devastating diagnosis where people are left feeling isolated and in fear.  We want more people to know about this lung disease that’s on the rise and that our support group is here to offer vital support for anyone affected.”

For Pulmonary Fibrosis Month this September the charity Action for Pulmonary Fibrosis is launching a hard-hitting campaign on the signs and symptoms of this pulmonary fibrosis.  The campaign goes live on Monday 2 September at www.apf.org.uk