During IPF week ITV Welsh regional news ran a story highlighting the effects of IPF on patients. The piece highlighted the fact that IPF is a relatively unknown lung disease despite having a higher death rate than many cancers.
Mr Henry Stead Porthcawl who was diagnosed with IPF 2 years ago told reporter Nicola Hendy that he initially thought he was out of condition and needed to exercise. He commented that ‘it’s a crippling disease that creeps up on you’, breathlessness makes doing every day activities difficult.
Dr Ben Hope-Gill Consultant Respiratory Physician Cardiff & Vale UHB outlined the effects of scaring on the lungs and noted that it was not as rare as people think. In the last 30-40 years there has been a 30 fold increase in the number of new cases.
There are around 450 new cases of IPF in Wales each year. Joseph Carter The British Lung foundation emphasised the need for early diagnosis and for investment in research to develop medications and treatments to tackle the condition and stop deterioration.
