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Invisible Illness: Young Woman's Battle Against Cystic Fibrosis
30 Nov, 2025
Summary
- Caitlin Magagna lives with cystic fibrosis, a debilitating inherited condition.
- A new drug, Trikafta, dramatically improved her health after previous treatments failed.
- CF is Australia's most common inherited chronic illness, yet often remains unseen.
At 26, Melbourne resident Caitlin Magagna navigates life with cystic fibrosis (CF), a chronic and incurable genetic condition impacting her lungs, pancreas, and digestive system. Despite living a seemingly normal life, Caitlin battles a daily reality of medication, breathing treatments, and hospital visits due to the thick mucus CF causes in her airways.
Her condition worsened significantly in 2023, with lung function dropping to 33 percent and transplant being considered. A breakthrough arrived with the drug Trikafta, which targets the root cause of CF. Initially inaccessible due to cost, compassionate access and later PBS listing brought hope and life-changing improvements.
CF is the most common inherited chronic illness in Australia, affecting over 3,700 individuals, yet it often goes unrecognized. Caitlin advocates for increased awareness, emphasizing that visible health does not equate to internal well-being and challenging the stigma surrounding invisible illnesses.
