SALT - A Film by Max McGuire


CYSTIC FIBROSIS \| WHAT IS CYSTIC FIBROSIS? \| CÉLINE DION SUPPORT
WHAT IS CYSTIC FIBROSIS? Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common, fatal genetic disease affecting young Canadians. CF is a multi-organ disease affecting primarily the lungs and the digestive system. In the lungs, CF causes severe breathing problems. A build-up of thick mucus makes it difficult to clear bacteria and leads to cycles of infection and inflammation, which damage the delicate lung tissues. They must follow a demanding daily routine of physical therapy to keep the lungs free of congestion and infection. In the digestive tract, CF makes it extremely difficult to digest and absorb adequate nutrients from food. Thick mucus blocks the ducts of the pancreas, preventing enzymes from reaching the intestines to digest food. Therefore, persons with CF must consume a large number of artificial enzymes (on average 20 pills a day) with every meal and snack, to help them absorb adequate nutrition from their food. How does cystic fibrosis affect daily life? For persons with CF, life includes a daily routine of therapy and periodic visits to a CF clinic. Otherwise, most individuals with cystic fibrosis lead normal lives, for many years, in terms of education, physical activity, and social relationships. Eventually, however, lung disease places increasing limits on daily life. Thanks to advances in research and clinical care, growing numbers of children with CF are surviving into adulthood. In 1960, when the CCFF was founded, a child born with cystic fibrosis rarely lived four years. Today, half of all Canadians with CF are expected to live into their late-thirties and beyond. In 2006, for the first time, more than 50% of all Canadians with CF were 18 years and older. These men and women are pursuing post-secondary education, careers and many are having families of their own; a tremendous accomplishment, but not enough.

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