Current Treatments

Like many other diseases “cystic fibrosis” is a term that covers a myriad of medical conditions, symptoms and effects.  Everyone with this disease has to deal with unique sets of issues.  So too are the ways to treat cystic fibrosis (CF) and help every individual are equally diverse. They are also increasingly more effective.

In broad terms let’s cover them in three categories - Physiotherapy, Medications and Lung Transplant. But first we want to make one thing abundantly clear.

You are not alone.

In Australia people with CF are supported by dedicated, talented and truly passionate medical, allied health and nursing and specialists. They are there to listen to you, to help you address your unique concerns and to be with you at every step of your pathway towards the health outcomes you’re committed to achieve.

If you’ve ever had a bad back or a sporting injury you’ll appreciate just how valuable a physiotherapist is when it comes to healing and rehabilitation. For everyone with CF you can multiply that exponentially. Physiotherapy is vital to people with CF, principally in developing and maintaining optimal airway clearance but also across a range of other vital functions including sinus management, exercise and even help with ingesting medicines.

Because your condition is unique to you, your physiotherapist will help you develop a bespoke treatment regimen.  Together you can evaluate different techniques and exercises to help you focus on the very best ways to tackle the challenges you face.

Again, there’s no one rule that fits all because the specifics of CF differ from person to person. Even so there are broad spectrums of drugs, some new, some well established, that can be carefully calibrated to achieve maximum effect for every individual.  The complexities of CF in its many forms in turn demand a profusion of medical responses and as it currently stands many people with CF take in excess of 50 tablets a day to combat the disease’s ravages on their lungs and digestive systems.

Even so and without being either too optimistic or simplistic, the future looks bright.  The advances on the horizon and the breakthroughs in the pipeline are set to slowly by surely revolutionise treatments. And one day, in some way, find a cure.

Again, there’s no one rule that fits all because the specifics of CF differ from person to person. Even so there are broad spectrums of drugs, some new, some well established, that can be carefully calibrated to achieve maximum effect for every individual.  The complexities of CF in its many forms in turn demand a profusion of medical responses and as it currently stands many people with CF take in excess of 50 tablets a day to combat the disease’s ravages on their lungs and digestive systems.

Even so and without being either too optimistic or simplistic, the future looks bright.  The advances on the horizon and the breakthroughs in the pipeline are set to slowly by surely revolutionise treatments. And one day, in some way, find a cure.

For those who are receiving lessening effectiveness from existing treatments and therapies, a lung transplant is a daunting but life saving option.  This could even be extended to transplantation of other organs such as the liver where the disease has critically affected their ability to function properly.  Unsurprisingly with a procedure of this complexity there is a breadth of issues and options to consider. Again, they are unique to every individual.

The overriding positives to be drawn from all this stem from the incredible advances made in this type of surgery and the faster, more efficient post operative procedures and therapies that deliver the critical, life saving outcome.

For those who are receiving lessening effectiveness from existing treatments and therapies, a lung transplant is a daunting but life saving option.  This could even be extended to transplantation of other organs such as the liver where the disease has critically affected their ability to function properly.  Unsurprisingly with a procedure of this complexity there is a breadth of issues and options to consider. Again, they are unique to every individual.

The overriding positives to be drawn from all this stem from the incredible advances made in this type of surgery and the faster, more efficient post operative procedures and therapies that deliver the critical, life saving outcome.