Cancer Support
Related: About this forumPlease spread the word: Post-chemo risk of blood clots/pulmonary issues
I have a relative who was treated successfully for colon cancer. After treatment, she had great pain in her chest and trouble breathing. Her doctor was not helpful. It got so bad she was rushed to the emergency room. Blood clots had traveled from her legs to her lungs as a result of chemo. She came very, very close to dying, but thank goodness she did survive. She had to be on oxygen for a few months afterwards, and her lungs are scarred permanently. I don't know why the doctor didn't know that pulmonary embolism was a distinct possibility after chemo. They could have caught it so much sooner.
Then this morning I read this horribly sad story about a man who also survived colon cancer only to die because of pulmonary fibrosis due to chemotherapy. His wife delivered their baby daughter two weeks early so he could see her before he died.
I don't think enough people know this risk associated with chemotherapy. If you or someone you know is going through chemo or has gone through it and has pain/breathing issues, etc., please get it checked out and make sure there are no blood clots present.
http://www.kval.com/news/national/Induced-labor-allows-dying-man-to-see-daughter--139194504.html
Irishonly
(3,344 posts)I am happy to hear your relative is ok now. I will share the information with my friends that are in chemo now and I can't thank you enough for sharing the information with our members fighting cancer right now.
Arugula Latte
(50,566 posts)I'm happy to spread the word. Frankly I was shocked at the lack of awareness of my relative's doctor. Patients really do have to advocate for themselves, and having good information is essential. Good luck to all your friends who are fighting cancer.
P.S.: I believe my relative also had leg pain, which in retrospect was the clots. So that could be another warning sign.
geckosfeet
(9,644 posts)I think colon cancer treatment is 5-FU delivered by iv push. The article mentions six months of treatment which again sounds like 5-FU.
Anyone know if the risk of pulmonary fibrosis is specific to this type of treatment?
Arugula Latte
(50,566 posts)The Mayo Clinic says:
Chemo/risk of blood clots:
Cancer. Certain cancers especially pancreatic, ovarian and lung cancers can increase levels of substances that help blood clot, and chemotherapy further increases the risk. Women with a history of breast cancer who are taking tamoxifen or raloxifene also are at higher risk of blood clots.
Chemo/pulmonary fibrosis:
Having radiation treatments to your chest or using certain chemotherapy drugs makes you more susceptible to pulmonary fibrosis.
Chemocare.com says:
Many factors can contribute to the creation of blood clots, including some types of chemotherapy.
You can develop pulmonary fibrosis from:
-Certain chemotherapy drugs. These include bleomycin, mitomycin, BCNU and busulfan.
geckosfeet
(9,644 posts)I had radiation on my stomach and what's left of my esophagus. Not sure if that qualifies as radiation to the chest as it is a bit lower.
Besides that, I don't really fall in that profile.
Arugula Latte
(50,566 posts)Good luck with your recovery!