[sema4dogz]

I am 37, overweight but losing it fast and was a social smoker . Other than that, no health problems till diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago, which was excised then treated by radiation therapy. Recently , more cancer appeared in the other breast, this time no surgery, just radiation therapy. It now transpires that I have pulmonary fibrosis from the initial radiation.
My life has turned into a terrifying drama - prognoses seem to vary between 10 years and much, much less. Given that I have small children, the youngest not yet two, I am desperate for advice and information. The childrens' father is not a caring or supportive partner I might add, and he does not know of the recent developments...

[J_9]

What would you like help with?

Have you considered a bilateral radical mastectomy with chemotherapy? That's what I did when I was diagnosed with breast cancer and have been healthy ever since.

[sema4dogz]

Thank you, but you have not understood my question - I don't have cancer anymore. As I said above, the second lot was just recently treated with radiation therapy. My problem is pulmonary fibrosis i.e. the lung damage caused by that radiation.

[J_9]

I'm sorry I misunderstood, but I don't understand exactly what your question is. Could you please rephrase it?

[sema4dogz]

I was hoping for advice of ANY sort really , from people who have or know about a diagnosis of pulmonary fibrosis
Thank you

[J_9]

PF is a scarring and thickening of the lung tissue. The lung damage cannot be repaired but certain medications and therapies can help with the symptoms.

For some people a lung transplant my be necessary.

Have you discussed this with a pulmonologist? That would be your next step.

There is a good article from the Mayo Clinic...

Pulmonary fibrosis - MayoClinic.com

[joypulv]

Has anyone explained the wide variety of prognoses?
From what I read, scar tissue might or might not continue to grow, and perhaps because that is an unpredictable factor, no one can be sure.
You have stopped smoking I assume.
Start looking into Social Security Disability for yourself and your children, and start planning a future for your children, keeping in mind that the father can do a lot to determine their future too.
It's something to do, to organize and plan, even if you outlive all predictions.

[sema4dogz]

Thank you both , yes , I have stopped smoking, I think the wide vareity of prognosis time was that when I first heard 5 to ten, I really only allowed myself to remember ten and then when I went for counselling, 5 years became mcuh more the time line used . Maybe they thought I could handle it better after few days -I don't know. Also, I think more test results were in by then, can't really remember , it's a bit of a blur to be honest.
I am doing the social security planning ( I;m Australian, so it not as hard here as it is in the US I think? )
I know their father can do a lot to determine their future , I can't go into why, but he has become a man I am not prepared to trust however. He'd have them put into care I do believe .
Thank you for the Mayo article J9 ( and yes, people do outlive their prognois and I aimto be one of them