Learn about cystic fibrosis, a genetic disorder that affects the lungs, pancreas, and other organs, and how to treat and live with this chronic disease.
CF is a rare genetic disease found in about 30,000 people in the U.S. If you have CF or are considering testing for it, knowing about the role of genetics in CF can help you make informed decisions about your health care.
If you or your child has just been diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, or your doctor has recommended testing for CF, you may have many questions.
Diagnosing CF is a multistep process. A complete diagnostic evaluation should include a newborn screening, a sweat chloride test, a genetic or carrier test, and a clinical evaluation at a CF Foundation-accredited care center.
Raising a child with cystic fibrosis can bring up many questions because CF affects many aspects of your child’s life. Here you’ll find resources to help you manage your child’s daily needs and find the best possible CF care.
Living with cystic fibrosis comes with many challenges, including medical, social, and financial. By learning more about how you can manage your disease every day, you can ultimately help find a balance between your busy lifestyle and your CF care.
People with CF are living longer, healthier lives than ever before. As an adult with CF, you may reach key milestones you might not have considered. Planning for these life events requires careful thought as you make decisions that may impact your life.
People with cystic fibrosis are living longer and more fulfilling lives, thanks in part to specialized CF care and a range of treatment options.
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation-accredited care centers provide expert care and specialized disease management to people living with cystic fibrosis.
We provide funding for and accredit more than 120 care centers and 53 affiliate programs nationwide. The high quality of specialized care available throughout the care center network has led to the improved length and quality of life for people with CF.
The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation provides standard care guidelines based on the latest research, medical evidence, and consultation with experts on best practices.
As a clinician, you’re critical in helping people with CF maintain their quality of life. We’re committed to helping you partner with patients and their families by providing resources you can use to improve and continue to provide high-quality care.
As part of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's mission to help improve the lives of people living with cystic fibrosis, the PSDC initiative taps the CF community to inform key efforts to support the management of daily care.
Your cystic fibrosis care team includes a group of CF health care professionals who partner with you to provide specialized, comprehensive CF care.
Many people living with cystic fibrosis and their families face complicated issues related to getting the care they need. Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Compass makes sure that no one has to do it alone.
CF Foundation Compass is a service that helps people with CF and their families with navigating insurance options, connecting to legal information and experts, finding available financial resources, and tackling other life issues.
CF care team members are paramount in providing highly specialized care to people living with CF. CF Foundation Compass can help by serving as a strategic ally for care teams, so team members can focus on their patients’ care.
CF Foundation Compass can help you navigate insurance, financial, legal, and other issues you are facing. Use this online form to start your conversation with a Compass case manager today.
The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is the world’s leader in the search for a cure for CF and supports a broad range of research initiatives to tackle the disease from all angles.
The CF Foundation offers a number of resources for learning about clinical trials and treatments that are being developed to improve the treatment of cystic fibrosis.
Our understanding of CF continues to evolve as scientists study what causes the disease and how it affects the body. These insights drive the development of new and better treatments and bring us one step closer to a cure.
Researchers, supported by the CF Foundation, have made tremendous advances to improve the health and quality of life of people with CF. We are committed to providing the tools and resources you need to continuously build upon this work.
CF Community Blog
Matt James, an adult with CF, and Anna Georgiopoulos, M.D., discuss the importance of mental health in CF care, including what to expect from the recently published guidelines for screening and treating depression and anxiety. Watch the One-on-One Live video here.
By Robert Fay
October 13, 2015
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Broadcasted from NACFC in Phoenix, this year's One-on-One Live was a discussion on mental health between Matt James, a 35-year-old with CF, and Anna Georgiopoulos, M.D., assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and a member of the multidisciplinary CF care team at Massachusetts General Hospital. Matt posed questions -- of his own and those submitted by the CF community -- to Dr. Georgiopoulos about the recently published guidelines for screening and treating depression and anxiety in people with CF and family caregivers. The result was an eye-opening discussion about how to make emotional wellness a part of routine CF care.
I was struck by Matt's comment that many people with CF play down the emotional toll the disease takes when interacting with their care teams. He asked Dr. Georgiopoulos, "how effective can this screening be and how do you avoid that type of fooling mentality?” A great question on Matt's part. If you missed watching the session live, hear Dr. Georgiopoulos' response in the archived video below.
I think the discussion made it clear that depression and anxiety can be treated successfully, which is why working the screening and treatment of them into overall CF care -- and talking about them honestly -- is so important.
Robert Fay
Medical Communications Writer, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
In his job as a medical communications writer, Robert is charged with writing material that helps people with CF and their families gain a better understanding of the disease and to make informed decisions about care. Prior to joining the CF Foundation, Robert wrote web-based patient education material for 10 years in Boston, where he also began playing hockey. In 2012, the northern Virginia native returned to the Washington, D.C., area after 16 years away.
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This site contains general information about cystic fibrosis, as well as personal insight from the CF community. It is not intended as a substitute for treatment advice from a medical professional. Consult your doctor before making any changes to your treatment.
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