CF Foundation-accredited care centers play an important role in research. They collect information on the health status of their patients with CF who agree to participate, and report that data to the CF Foundation Patient Registry. The information is available in aggregate to the CF community each year through the Data Report, the Highlights Report, and the Care Center Finder.
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In the third plenary, Dr. Wayne Morgan talked about the connection between cystic fibrosis care and the Patient Registry, and introduced a new way for people with CF, along with their families, to help shape the research conducted using the Registry.
A day spent visiting a care center proved the perfect introduction to the CF story for legislative staffers.
The Partnerships for Sustaining Daily Care (PSDC) team had the opportunity to hear from people with cystic fibrosis, families and care teams at five Family Education Days at care centers across the country. Here's what we heard.
I was recently diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at age 67. Although I love my CF care team, I think it will be important for them to understand age-related care in addition to CF care — especially as the CF population ages.
I have had a fortunate life with cystic fibrosis given the fact that I married, had two kids, and a career. However, with increasing — and sometimes bewildering — health issues, I’m beginning to wonder whether it’s my CF or just aging, or something in between.
People like me are living longer — median survival for someone with cystic fibrosis is now 56 thanks to research and care. But as I grow older, my health is getting more complicated and I'll need my care to keep up.
My transition from pediatric to adult care filled me with anxiety and proved to be much more difficult than how the experience was described to me. But, when care centers work together with their patients and listen to their concerns, we can improve cystic fibrosis care and address concerns much sooner.
Although adults with cystic fibrosis are at a significantly higher risk of developing colorectal cancer than the general population, colonoscopy screening is an effective way to prevent and treat colorectal cancer by helping to detect and remove polyps. People with CF should be screened starting at age 40 (or 30 for those who have had a transplant). Find out how early screening can help reduce the risk.
The third plenary at this year’s North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference focused on the changing needs of the CF population that are compelling an evolution in CF care. As a person with CF, this evolution in care directly affects me as I face the challenges of living longer with this disease.