Is excessive CA19-9 not cancer? He died less than a year after being diagnosed with "idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis"! Doctor: If you have cough and asthma for more than 8 weeks, seek medical advice immediately.
Don’t ignore the three major signs of pulmonary fibrosis. Seek medical attention quickly if you feel tired and out of breath when walking.
Don’t think of frequent coughing and breathlessness as trivial matters. Once there is an abnormal sound of “devil’s felt” tearing in the lung lobes during auscultation, it may be a sign of “pulmonary fibrosis”! The Taiwan Society of Thoracic and Intensive Care Medicine reminds that the early symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis are not obvious and can easily be confused with other respiratory diseases, or patients may think it is a small cold and miss the opportunity for treatment. Once diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis, lung function may have been severely reduced. In addition to supplementing oxygen to maintain daily activities, severe cases may also require hospitalization and intubation.
Dr. Wang Hejian, chairman of the Taiwan Society of Thoracic and Intensive Care Medicine, pointed out that the common symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis are “cough, wheezing, and tiredness.” Clinically, many patients only seek medical treatment when they cough until they cannot sleep or seriously affect others. The causes of pulmonary fibrosis There are many, among which “idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis”, which is more familiar to Taiwanese people, is irreversible, which may lead to a sharp decline in lung function. In severe cases, people will become breathless and have difficulty breathing after walking a few steps. The progression of the disease varies from person to person. If Without early detection and appropriate treatment, the five-year survival rate is less than ideal for many cancers.
Six major risk groups for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis may be more serious than cancer
Dr. Wang Hejian explained that the progression of pulmonary fibrosis is like “boiling a frog in warm water”, moving from the bottom of the lung to the apex of the lung and spreading from the periphery to the center. In the past, a high-level corporate executive was treated. Although he had symptoms of coughing and asthma, he thought it was just a minor problem and ignored it. He also had no idea about the lower lung lobes after auscultation. During the physical examination, it was found that the CA19-9 index was high and he thought it was a malignant tumor. After being referred to the Department of Chest Medicine, it was discovered that the lungs had severe fibrosis and he was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. His condition quickly worsened and he died within a year.
Dr. Wang Hejian said that the cause of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is still unclear. High-risk groups include men over 50 years old, those with a history of smoking, family history of pulmonary fibrosis, long-term gastroesophageal reflux, or workers who have been exposed to high dust environments. In order to remind Taiwanese people to pay attention to lung diseases, the Taiwan Association of Thoracic and Intensive Care Medicine has designated September 19th as Taiwan Pulmonary Fibrosis Day. It reminds Taiwanese people to pay attention to wheezing while walking around and that high-risk groups should have their lungs tested regularly. Function.
Dr. Wang Hejian reminds that when the lungs begin to show signs of fibrosis, when the doctor auscultates the lower lung lobes on the back, you can hear a sound like a devil’s felt tearing open. If you have the three major symptoms of “cough, wheezing, and tiredness” and have already If the condition lasts for more than eight weeks, go to the thoracic department for examination as soon as possible. When the doctor suspects idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a high-resolution computed tomography scan will be further arranged to determine whether the diagnosis is confirmed and the extent of the disease.
Autoimmune diseases require more attention, cardiopulmonary fibrosis, and lung function should be tested every 3-6 months
Dr. Zheng Tiancai, chairman of the Rheumatology Society of Taiwan, pointed out that patients with autoimmune diseases are also a high-risk group for pulmonary fibrosis. People with autoimmune diseases must pay attention to respiratory symptoms or physical abnormalities. Recently, a patient who was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis less than a year ago found severe fibrosis in his lungs X-ray, showing that the progression of pulmonary fibrosis is unpredictable.
“Patients with autoimmune diseases have a disordered immune system, which causes them to attack all organs throughout the body regardless of friend or foe. Once the lungs are invaded, pulmonary fibrosis may occur. If not treated in time, it may progress to ‘progressive pulmonary fibrosis’!”
Dr. Zheng Tiancai appeals to patients with autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, Sjögren’s disease, dermatomyositis, polymyositis, lupus erythematosus and other autoimmune diseases, during the tracking process of the primary disease, regardless of Whether symptoms of “cough, wheezing, or tiredness” occur, it is recommended to arrange regular pulmonary function tests every 3-6 months under the professional evaluation of a physician to track whether there is pulmonary fibrosis.
Dr. Cheng Tim Choi pointed out that in the past, a patient with scleroderma used steroids and other drugs to control his symptoms, but his lung function deteriorated rapidly due to concurrent pulmonary fibrosis and his condition deteriorated rapidly and he passed away. Pulmonary fibrosis cannot be cured and the damage to lung function is irreversible. However, in recent years, anti-pulmonary fibrosis drugs have been available that can improve symptoms and delay the decline of lung function. Patients are reminded to cooperate with medical advice and consult a specialist if there are any abnormalities to avoid missing treatment opportunities. .
In order to improve Taiwanese people’s awareness of lung diseases and pulmonary fibrosis, the Taiwan Thoracic and Intensive Care Medicine Society and the Rheumatology Society of Taiwan jointly held the “Lungs are Interesting Walking Carnival” on the eve of Pulmonary Fibrosis Day, calling for more than 500 people from high-risk groups went outdoors. The Taiwan Ministry of Health and Welfare, Health Promotion Administration reminds that the causes of interstitial lung disease are related to smoking, and calls on smokers to consult smoking cessation clinics to quit smoking as soon as possible. High-risk groups should undergo regular lung function tests. If they experience “cough, wheezing, tiredness” or any lung symptoms, they should seek medical diagnosis for early detection and appropriate treatment to slow down the deterioration of lung function and maintain a good quality of life.
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