New drug slows scarring of the lungs due to pulmonary fibrosis

SALT LAKE CITY — Pulmonary fibrosis is a lung disease that doesn’t present severe symptoms for months.

Those symptoms include shortness of breath, a dry cough and fatigue and eventually lead to scarring in the lungs.

“We want to bring to the forefront that this disease exists, there are people suffering from this disease,” said Dr. Peter Crossno, a pulmonologist at Intermountain Health.

He said this disease affects each person differently, but 70% of patients will die within five years of being diagnosed.

Right now, this disease does not have a cure, but Crossno said doctors have found a medication that can slow down how it scars the lungs.

“We are dealt a disease that we don’t have a cure for but at least now we can slow it down,” he said.

Edna Anderson-Taylor is thankful for that medication, she said her diagnosis does not hold her back.

“I want to live my life the way I have always lived it and so as long as I can I will,” she said.

She has always lived an active life, filled with gardening, walking and portraying Miss. Julie on the hit show “Romper Room.”

“Those were lovely years, lovely, lovely years,” she said. “I think that is what has saved me during this, that I can still remain active.”

She searched for five years to get an explanation for her shortness of breath. No one could give her the answers until she met Dr. Crossno.

“If I wouldn’t have seen him, I wouldn’t be breathing right now. I just wouldn’t,” Anderson-Taylor said.

Dr. Crossno said don’t ignore your symptoms. If you feel shortness of breath that’s not normal for you, he recommended that you should see your doctor.