I initially struggled with how to share about my cystic fibrosis with people I met when I started college. Here’s what I learned.
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When I was in college, I wanted to do it all and my health wasn’t as much of a priority anymore. I learned to accept that things will not always go according to plan and to integrate routine in my life to ensure my health comes first.
While I’ve had the incredible opportunity to participate in clinical trials for cystic fibrosis, my nonsense mutations mean I can’t benefit from modulators. I was inspired by the North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference’s second plenary session, which discussed how we can evolve clinical trials to develop treatments for all people with CF.
When I went off to college it was up to me to manage my cystic fibrosis for the first time without help from my family. I felt fine after skipping my medications and decided to stop using my noisy vest because it embarrassed me, and I wanted to make friends at my new school. As a result, I stayed in the hospital for a few weeks and left with a new perspective on life.
There have never been as many new CF drugs in development as there are today. In the second plenary at NACFC, Dr. George Retsch-Bogart outlined the progress we've made, the road ahead and the changes needed to make it all possible. Read on for my key takeaways.
I'm a big proponent of participating in clinical research, but COVID-19 made me think twice about participating in a clinical trial that required six hospital visits. However, a screening visit reassured me that the researchers were taking all the necessary precautions.
Anything that slows down progress in research and the cure for this cystic fibrosis is my sworn enemy. Learn why the Improving Access to Clinical Trials Act (IACT) matters for our progress in the fight against CF and what you can do about it.
I used to be afraid of the thought of participating in a clinical trial for a cystic fibrosis medication. But when my doctor asked me recently if I was interested, I jumped at the chance. My desire to help myself and the CF community finally outweighed my fears.
Since Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Compass launched last year, we've learned so much from the community and have helped people with cystic fibrosis find creative solutions for all kinds of problems. That's why we are excited to unveil our new “Ask a Case Manager” blog series.
My son, Arjun, has had the deck stacked against him in some ways. He was born early, with cystic fibrosis, and needed surgery. His resilience, and my hopes for his future, keep me inspired.