As of 2016, there were an estimated 6,500 people living with pulmonary fibrosis in Saskatchewan. Pulmonary fibrosis is a progressing, scarring lung disease that causes shortness of breath, cough and lack of oxygen.

Prior to 2017, there were no clinics that specialized in interstitial lung disease in the province, and residents either had to seek treatment in neighboring provinces or see a general respirologist in Saskatchewan.

That was until Dr. Veronica Marcoux and Dr. Stacey Lok, both from Saskatchewan, decided to undergo further training with the plan to start and expand the province’s first ILD clinic.

Dr. Marcoux says she found funding for the new clinic and was able to hire one part-time nurse at the outset and the clinic has grown ever since to one full time and one part time ILD nurse. As part of a successful ILD program, a multidisciplinary team was established including chest radiology, pathology, rheumatology and palliative care.

After the retirement of Peggy McKee, ILD nurse, Shane Vandemeele joined the team and in the near future, Rebecah Selzler will be joining us in an ILD nursing role as well.

“The clinic has been growing really well, and we also provide support to Regina through multidisciplinary discussion and diagnosis…it’s been a bit of a growth.”

To celebrate the progress that’s been made on fighting the disease, and mark Pulmonary Fibrosis Month, the first ever Canadian Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation Walk for Pulmonary Fibrosis is taking place in Saskatoon today.

Dr. Marcoux and Dr. Lok, along with the support of Shane Vandemeele, decided to host the walk, which took place in Gabriel Dumont Park.

Over 90 people registered for the inaugural walk, and over $6,000 were raised to support the Canadian Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation.