Living with lung fibrosis: knowledge is power

Lung fibrosis is a serious disease that takes a toll on patients and caregivers. The course of lung fibrosis is variable, but most patients experience breathlessness and fatigue and many are troubled by cough. In addition, the medications used to slow the worsening of lung fibrosis may cause side effects. The better that patients understand lung fibrosis, the more able they will be to manage its impact on their lives. Support is available to help patients manage the symptoms of their disease and the side effects of medications. In this article, we use our experiences as a patient with lung fibrosis, a wife and caregiver of a patient with lung fibrosis, and a clinician who cares for patients with lung fibrosis to provide information for patients on the diagnosis, course, and treatment of this disease.