Hello
My father has been diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary fibrosis. How is this different from lung cancer? Thanks.

Hi @scrapper, welcome to Connect.
"Pulmonary fibrosis is a lung disease that occurs when lung tissue becomes damaged and scarred. This thickened, stiff tissue makes it more difficult for your lungs to work properly. As pulmonary fibrosis worsens, you become progressively more short of breath." Pulmonary fibrosis with no known cause is called idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. You can read more here https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pulmonary-fibrosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20353690

I recommend that you follow the Lung Health group and take part in the discussion about IPF
- Pulmonary Fibrosis https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/pulmonary-fibrosis/

Colleen: Great information !
Thank you
linda

Linda- I understand how hard it is to try and breath after waking up after lung surgery. I've had two of them, right lower lobectomy and upper left lobectomy. After I woke up from my second lob. I thought, Sh..t, I'm doomed! And when the nurse brought in the spirometer, knowing what it's used for, I was ready to leap out of bed and leave! But I didn't have the strength nor breath to do it.

When you are diagnosed with lung cancer and have never smoke it places and undue burden to defend themselves against smokers. No one starts smoking and thinks, oh goodie I might get cancer! I never wore a T shirt with a target on it asking to be shamed.
Shame and guilt are two different things but they should never be apart of anyone's life while ill. There was no complicity of self-affliction. I didn’t paint a target on my shirt and advertise target practice. No one deserves to be told "I told you so."

Hi I am Rita, my husband has been diagnosed with lung cancer, we don't know what stage yet. He has a very large mass on his right lung, looks like way over half of his lung.they have already done a biopsy. We are waiting for him to get approved by the VA before they can do the tests to stage it. He needs an MRI and a pet scan. Everything is tied up with the VA right now and the waiting is so hard. I am so scared. He has trouble breathing, coughing hard and coughing up blood. Pain in his chest, tired and weak. He just turned 63. I lost my first husband of 24 year's to a car accident, was alone for 12 years then met Blake my second chance at life. We were married 7/11/15

Virtual Super Hug. I'm so sorry for what you're going through especially at your young age and for your family and children. My husband is going through massive testing for his lung cancer right now and it's rough. All of this makes my breast cancer journey look like a cake walk. I admire your spirit and strength.

Hello everyone (shortshot80)Nancy. It has been a very stressful month since my husband passed away. Service for him was just wonderful. I had immune therapy chemo on June 21. Have had no problems with the chemo. Just trying to get through the days as best as I can. I have four grown children. One of who thinks he should be in charge of everything. The other three do not trust him. So I'm in the middle and am going to see a attorney on Tuesday to have him help me sort all the kinks that have been aroused. Some times I'm at my wits end with .....whatever. Will see how far this goes and put a end to it. I know I'm not the only one with this type of problems, who have to have someone with some smarts to help. Yes, the house is still a little lonely, I know this will take some time to clear the air!. Now on to another subject. I had a phone call from my friend who has brain cancer and is helping me with my book. "I was one of five ladies who fished commercial with my husband in 1971 off the coast of Oregon. I have been on this project perhaps 35-40 years. I want to finish, and let the grand-kids see what we did "back in the day". My husband Bob and I fished every weekend during the summer and vacations from 1971 to 1987. I purchased our property in 1986, and we moved here in 1987. I continued to fish with Bob, till 1990 and then found a job working with "medical & physical disabled adults for a year. That job taught me how and why to help those people. That let me to have Bob's mom to live with us, for about 10 years. After that I went to work in grocery stores (2) in different city's 25 miles each way from my home. I worked for about five or six years, between the two. I finally retired from working and started to volunteer for the chamber of commerce, and various other things. Also I used to write a weekly column in the local newspaper for 11 years. I have let a full and productive life . I also was a offset printer for over 18 years before we moved here. The most fun job I had for four years was a school bus driver in the city. I dressed for all the holidays and kids decorated my "hats" of which I still have two. Now I have about 42 hats that I wear. Don't have much hair since the cancer arrived in 2016. Hey, I needed this, so thanks for listening. Nancy

I'm truly sorry to hear about your loss @shortshot, but I so enjoyed reading about your life experiences. Embracing pain in any form, especially grief, loss is difficult for us. I can only imagine that you are probably experiencing the most intensely emotional period of your life right now. And though, as the saying goes, "Death brings out the best and the worst in families,” it's up to you to decide how this loss will affect your life. A friend shared this when I lost my grandmother, who was very dear to me, and I thought I'd share it with you...
"Choose to be thankful for the past, but choose to be resourceful in the present, and most importantly choose to be hopeful for the future."

Hi,, I'm shortshot) What a wonderful way to "Choose to be thankful for the past, but choosee to resourceful in the present, and most importantlly choose to be hopeful for the future". My oh My Yes! I will share this with my kid's who will listen. Most people can have kids, love them and raise them to the best of their ability, and hope they have listened to some of the things you try to impart to them. My "kids" are all in their 60's, doesn't mean that they heard anything I had tried to tell them. But mostly hope they listened, heard and put into practice of what you tried to teach them. All this just has to take it's time for each one. Thank you much for the wisdom you shared today.
Nancy.

Hi everyone, I am a 65 year old woman Disabled Veteran who has just been diagnosed with andenocarcinoma in right lung, not deep and about the size of a pea. My only care since retired has been the VA. Apparently someone has seen two other spots, one lower left and somewhere in my right. I was first told by a retired oncologist, now with VA, little radiation, curable. Next thing I know a referral to a local surgeon. He said remove right lobe. I asked about the other spots, too small to biopsy, but if they are cancer then it metastatic, stage iv and all they could do is palliative care and should get six months to a year. I have mental health issues with PTSD, MST and assorted other that follow up.. Have asked for a second opinion, but that's difficult in Rapid City, SD. Been through too much in life to give up now. Want to get to Mayo for second opinion even if I have to pay for it and could be there next week. Sorry for being so long on, but I need some hope and people going through this to share with. Thanks for any encouragement and support. Terrified, but stubborn!!!