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What is Fibrosis?

T Thompson
T Thompson

Fibrosis is the formation of excess fibrous tissues or scar tissue, usually because of injury or long-term inflammation. The two most well-known types of this condition are pulmonary fibrosis, which affects the lungs; and cystic fibrosis (CF), which affects the mucus glands. There also are many other types, including those that affect the heart, skin, joints and bone marrow. Cirrhosis of the liver also is a type of this condition.

Causes

Types of liver disease, including fibrosis.
Types of liver disease, including fibrosis.

There are many potential causes of this condition. It is sometimes caused by disease or the treatment of a disease. Other causes include injuries, burns, radiation, chemotherapy and gene mutation. Some types of this condition are idiopathic, which means that the causes are unknown.

Effects

Fibrosis causes the affected tissues to harden. They sometimes also swell. These changes can make the tissues unable to function properly. For example, the flow of fluids through the affected tissues is often reduced. When the condition is present in the lungs, they are unable to expand as normal, causing a shortness of breath.

Pulmonary Fibrosis

Weakness and chest discomfort may be symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis.
Weakness and chest discomfort may be symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis.

In the lungs, this condition is called pulmonary fibrosis, and it involves the overgrowth, hardening and/or scarring of lung tissue because of excess collagen. In addition to shortness of breath, the common symptoms include a chronic dry cough, fatigue, weakness and chest discomfort. A loss of appetite and rapid weight loss also are possible. This condition usually affects people between the ages of 40 and 70, and men and women are equally affected. The prognosis for patients with this disease is poor, and they usually are expected to live an average of only four to six years after diagnosis.

Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an inherited condition that affects the cells and glands that manufacture mucus, sweat and digestive enzymes.
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an inherited condition that affects the cells and glands that manufacture mucus, sweat and digestive enzymes.

Another common form of this condition is CF, a chronic, progressive and often fatal genetic disease of the body's mucus glands. Symptoms sometimes include abnormal heart rhythms, malnutrition, poor growth, frequent respiratory infections and breathing difficulties. This condition can also cause other medical problems, including sinusitis, nasal polyps and hemoptysis, or the coughing of blood. Abdominal pain and discomfort, gassiness, and rectal prolapse also are possible.

The symptoms of cystic fibrosis may include malnutrition and stunted growth.
The symptoms of cystic fibrosis may include malnutrition and stunted growth.

CF primarily affects the respiratory and digestive systems in children and young adults. The symptoms are often apparent at birth or shortly thereafter; rarely do the signs not show up until adolescence. It is most commonly found in Caucasians, and the prognosis is moderate, with many patients living for as long as 30 years after diagnosis. Although this form of fibrosis was once characterized by death in childhood, modern doctors view it as a chronic illness, with the majority of patients living to adulthood. There was no cure as of 2012, however, and most patients eventually succumb to lung failure or other infections of the respiratory tract.

Discussion Comments

anon288943

What should women eat so they can keep their strength up?

anon255275

My sister-in-law just had a surgery for fibrosis. Do you think it's cancerous?

anon172514

My medical report just showed that there's some fibrosis over my liver. is it due to the strong painkiller(spasmo proxyvon) I have been taking What are the stages of fibrosis and the medications we need in each stages. --Prawsun

anon158663

does fibrosis have a treatment?

anon154237

what is fibrosis of the uterus?

anon153384

Can a person be born with pulmonary fibrosis? and what is the cause of it.

anon78841

I just had surgery two weeks ago on both of my breasts. I had a thick sticky discharge from both and a large lump in my left one. The final results showed benign fibrocystic changes with focal duct ectasia and fibrosis. Should I be concerned?

anon55219

i have fibrocystic disease and they told me that i had to watch it and if they got the size of lemons or golf balls they would have to be removed. other than that just let them know during breast exams and have regular mammograms.

anon51770

Has anyone ever heard of getting fibrosis as a result of having Kawasaki Disease? Or the result of any other disease for that matter?

anon46660

why are any of you asking questions on here? ask your doctors. That's what they are for.

anon44559

Santoscoy, I'll bet the doctors found you had fibrocystic disease in your breasts. Don't worry about it. Your mom and grandmother probably had it, too. It does not cause cancer, or lead to any other issues other than having extra films taken for mammograms to rule out anything. You may get a small, sore lump occasionally. If you do, cut down on the caffeine for a week and see if it doesn't go away. I have it and my mom has it. Don't worry about it. Keep doing your breast self-exams every month and having your yearly mammograms. You'll be O.K. Remember to tell the person doing your mammograms that you have it, but other than that, you should be just fine.

santoscoy

The doctors found fibrosis on both of my breasts. Is this cancerous, can it spead to other parts of your body? How dangerous can this be? I'm scared and worried.

anon42533

I may have fibrosis of the feet. what is it?

anon40807

There is a cure for many illnesses without the chemicals we have to take. Search for Rife Resonator. My wife had rheumatoid arthritis and this machine helped to cure her of this horrible desease. In South Africa this machine is approved by the Department of Health to be used in the treatment of deseases.

anon40049

If you have this in the pulmonary fibrosis though, what other symptoms or out-of-the-ordinary things should you look for?

amazingdoc

What is fibrosis, cause and cures?

avat

I was recently diagnosed with Liver Fibrosis. What exactly does that mean? What is the prognosis for this disease?

rastaman

Someone posted a question about fibrosis in their foot I too would like some feedback on that please.

Beebsy107

I was recently diagnosed with Stage 3 Liver Fibrosis. What exactly does that mean? What is the prognosis for this disease?

mhunns

my othopedic has just said i might have fibrosis in my foot. what does this mean?

anon12073

I was just diagnosed with fibrosis of the breast. Does this disease travel to other areas? If you have fibrosis of the breast, does that mean you have pulmonary fibrosis. Are there support groups in southern calif? beachwalk1

anon4841

When I had a mammogram in October an itty bitty something was found and the subsequent needle biopsy revealed that it is a fibrosis.

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    • Types of liver disease, including fibrosis.
      By: peterjunaidy
      Types of liver disease, including fibrosis.
    • Weakness and chest discomfort may be symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis.
      By: milan2099
      Weakness and chest discomfort may be symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis.
    • Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an inherited condition that affects the cells and glands that manufacture mucus, sweat and digestive enzymes.
      By: joshya
      Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an inherited condition that affects the cells and glands that manufacture mucus, sweat and digestive enzymes.
    • The symptoms of cystic fibrosis may include malnutrition and stunted growth.
      By: poco_bw
      The symptoms of cystic fibrosis may include malnutrition and stunted growth.
    • Long-term inflammation of the lungs may cause pulmonary fibrosis.
      By: Aleksandar Todorovic
      Long-term inflammation of the lungs may cause pulmonary fibrosis.
    • Fatigue is common with people who have fibrosis.
      By: ChenPG
      Fatigue is common with people who have fibrosis.
    • Shortness of breath can be a symptom of fibrosis of the lungs.
      By: DURIS Guillaume
      Shortness of breath can be a symptom of fibrosis of the lungs.