Action for Pulmonary Fibrosis

Action for Pulmonary Fibrosis (APF) was set up in 2013 by a group of patients, family members, carers and medical specialists to provide support for patients diagnosed with the devastating terminal lung disease Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. IPF kills 5,000 people in the UK every year more than die from leukaemia and many other cancers but it doesnt have a high profile and is poorly understood. It is estimated that more than 30,000 people in the UK are affected The cause is unknown (idiopathic) and life expectancy is often worse than for lung cancer with more than half of sufferers dying within three and five years of diagnosis. The condition is characterised by a build-up of scar tissue in the lungs leading to shortness of breath and eventual respiratory failure. Our work focuses on four mains areas; firstly by supporting patients with information and access to a local support group and championing their needs. Secondly, by educating healthcare professionals about the import...