Pulmonary Fibrosis Symposium- A Journey of Learning, Living & Hope
September 5, 2012
Informative and helpful topics to improve the quality of life for IPF/PF patients
COLUMBIA, SC – On Friday, September 28, the USC School of Medicine-Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine is hosting a Community Awareness Program for Pulmonary Fibrosis/Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (PF/IPF) patients. The symposium objective is to provide healthcare professionals, patients and caregivers with information that can be helpful in improving the quality of life for PF/IPF patients.
What: Pulmonary Fibrosis Symposium – A Journey of Learning, Living & Hope
When: Friday, September 28, 2012
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Registration/Lunch
1:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Program
Where: Palmetto Health Richland Auditorium (1st floor of Hospital)
5 Richland Medical Park Dr., Columbia, SC 29203
Please RSVP by September 25 to:[email protected] or 803.779.5864
South Carolina has a very high population of people who suffer from pulmonary diseases. Approximately 128,000 Americans suffer from pulmonary fibrosis (PF), and an estimated 48,000 new cases are diagnosed every year. There is no known cure for this disease and no FDA approved treatment. The only treatment option is a lung transplant. PF/IPF is a lethal disease with some extremely grim statistics including:
- 2/3 of patients die within 5 years of diagnosis
- Every year there are 40,000 deaths due to PF/IPF (the same number as those with breast cancer)
- 50% of patients on a lung transplant list succumb to the disease before they become eligible for transplantation.
Consequently, patients and caregivers feel a sense of helplessness when fighting this relatively unknown disease. The goal of this program is to bring together experts who will share their knowledge, understanding and experience with topics related to what to expect and how to live with PF/IPF.
Speakers: Timothy P. Whelan, M.D. medical director and pulmonologist from MUSC Lung Transplant Center-will be presenting information on the MUSC Lung Transplantation Program and IPF clinical trials that are currently active, including how patients can become involved with the current clinical trials.
Linda Ann Perkins, M.D. from USC School of Medicine-Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, along with, Mark Mayson, M.D., FCCP from Palmetto Pulmonary, P.A. will be presenting information about Diagnosis of PF/IPF and Management Principles.
Robert F. Bradley, M.D. from Professional Pathology Services will be presenting an Overview of PF/IPF. Scott Sims, RRT from Palmetto Health Pulmonary Rehabilitation and Mark Stoll, LPC, NCC from Palmetto Health Behavioral Care will also be presenting.
Topics Covered: Current Understanding of PF/IPF, Research & Future Direction for PF/IPF, Virtues of Pulmonary Rehabilitation, Lung Transplantation Information, Improving Quality of Life, Coping with Chronic Illness and Patient Perspectives
About Pulmonary Fibrosis (PF) Pulmonary Fibrosis (PF) is a lung disorder characterized by a progressive scarring – known as fibrosis – and deterioration of the lungs, which slowly robs its victims of their ability to breathe. Approximately 128,000 Americans suffer from PF, and there is currently no known cause or cure. An estimated 48,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. PF is difficult to diagnose and an estimated two-thirds of patients die within five years of diagnosis. Sometimes PF can be linked to a particular cause, such as certain environmental exposures, chemotherapy or radiation therapy, residual infection, or autoimmune diseases such as scleroderma or rheumatoid arthritis. However, in many instances, no known cause can be established. When this is the case, it is called idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).
