The lungs supply needed oxygen to the body. But treatment for childhood cancer can sometimes damage the lungs. Here is what you need to know to assess your risk for lung problems and to help keep your lungs healthy.
Am I at Risk?
If you had any of the following cancer treatments, you may be at risk for developing lung problems.
- certain
chemotherapy drugs including, belomycin (see related Health Link:
“Bleomycin Alert”), carmustine (also called BCNU), lomustine (also called
CCNU), or busulfan
- radiation to the chest or whole body
- surgery to the chest or lung (this does not include surgery to have a central line placed)
- bone
marrow or stem cell transplant from a donor other than yourself that
resulted in chronic graft-versus-host-disease
- Also, a type of chemotherapy drug called anthracyclines can
damage your heart, which can contribute to lung problems. This is especially
the case if they were given with bleomycin, carmustine, lomustine, or
radiation.
Other factors that can increase your risk for lung problems
are:
- younger age when you were treated for cancer
- history of lung infections, asthma, or other
lung problems
- tobacco use or exposure to second-hand smoke
Lung problems that can develop as a result of these treatments
include scarring of the lungs, repeated lung infections, swelling of the lung
tissue and airways, rupture of the air sacs in the lungs, and thickening and
blockage of the airways in the lungs.
What Are the Symptoms of Lung Problems?
Symptoms of lung problems may include:
- shortness of breath;
- frequent coughing, wheezing, or both;
- chest pain; and
- frequent lung infections, such as bronchitis or
pneumonia.
Fatigue or shortness of breath during mild exercise is
sometimes an early symptom of lung damage.
What Can I Do to Keep My Lungs Healthy?
There are many ways to help lower your chance for lung
problems, including talking with your doctor, not smoking, and adopting a
healthy lifestyle.
See Your Doctor
As a childhood cancer survivor you should have a health
check-up every year. In addition, you should undergo a chest x-ray and
pulmonary function tests at least two years after you finish your cancer
treatment to check for any lung problems. Further testing may be needed based
on the results of the tests.
If you are at risk for lung problems, talk with your doctor
about getting pneumonia and flu vaccines. Also, you should avoid SCUBA diving
until you have a complete check-up and are told by a lung doctor
(pulmonologist) that it is safe for you.
Don’t Smoke
The most important lifestyle change that you can make is to
not smoke. Family, friends, and your doctor are great resources for quitting.
To request information by phone on how to quit smoking, call
these organizations:
American Cancer Society: 1-800-ACS-2345
American Heart Association: 1-800-AHA-USA1
American Lung Association: 1-800-LUNG-USA
National Cancer Institute: 1-877-44U-QUIT
Visit these websites for online information on how to quit
smoking:
- The
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov/tobacco/) provides
guides for how to quit smoking.
- Smokefree.gov
(http://www.smokefree.gov)
provides free, accurate, evidence-based information and professional
assistance to help support the immediate and long-term needs of people
trying to quit smoking.
Adopt a Healthy Lifestyle
Other lifestyle changes that can help prevent lung problems
include these:
- Avoid
second-hand smoke.
- Get
regular physical exercise.
- Avoid
breathing toxic fumes from chemicals, solvents, and paints.
- Follow
the safety rules at your workplace, such as using protective ventilators.
- Report
any unsafe working conditions to the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration.
Where Can I Find More Information on Lung Health?
You can find more information on the lungs and how to keep
them healthy from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute’s website at www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/lung/.
Read more about Lung Health...