Pulmonary Function Test

[Mom]

Jeff goes for a CT scan and pulmonary function test on Friday. He was told in January (one year post chemo) that he is on a surveillance schedule of two CT scans a year and markers every three months. I was surprised about the pulmonary function test. Do any of you guys that got treated with bleo get that test done on a regular basis, whether it is 2x year, 1 x year? I will be very interested in the results because his oncologist stopped the last two shots of bleo when he started seeing impairment. When asked if he would recover, the answer was kind of a "maybe." I want to know if he has improved or gotten worse. He finally quit smoking. He went skiing in Colorado last month and said that he could only ski about 4 hours/day. I am not sure that was because of his lung capacity or the fact that he got up at 1 in the afternoon. Dianne

[Apache]

I would get the pulmonary function test. Matter of fact, I need to go for one of those and should have done one pre-chemo. My lungs have felts like lead balloons ever since chemo and my oncologist said it was due to muscle weakness from inactivity from chemo. I don't know but don't agree.

[mrb1980]

Dianne,

Since Jeff received bleomycin, he needs the pulmonary function test. I had one pre- and post-chemo, and the results showed a noticeable decline in my pulmonary function. My chest was very tight right after chemo ended, I coughed a lot, and my post-chemo CT scan showed lung irritation from the bleo. My oncologist said (in so many words), "usually the irritation goes away, sometimes it doesn't, and rarely, it develops into a fatal lung fibrosis". Hmmm....not good news at all.

I experienced all degrees of panic at first, but my breathing seems pretty normal now, 4 1/2 months after chemo ended. For peace of mind, your son should get tested. The bleo worked in my case but had some pretty nasty side-effects.

[jdunn]

Josh had the test only pre-chemo and hasn't had one since. MMMmmm.
He's also had this little cough for about a good 2 months now. I know our air is so bad out here and he's very active with sports outside. ?????
It probably wouldn't hurt for him to have another one.

[mrb1980]

Jane,

Might not be a bad idea to have Josh re-tested. I'm actually rather surprised your oncologist didn't do so, but there may have been a reason. If he has any lingering effects of bleomycin, the doctors could treat it. Did his post-chemo CT scans show any lung problems? Mine were pretty evident.

You're right, the poor air quality here in Phoenix is probably not helping any. I am breathing much better than right after chemo but my wife has asthma and every day is a battle for her.

[jdunn]

Hi MRB1980,
His CT scans have all been clear. He had a chest x-ray done around end of Sept. He sees his doctor in a couple weeks so we will check with him then.
Sorry to hear that your wife is having a difficult time with her asthma.
Hey, maybe this is the weekend for some...what do you call it??? oh ya,
rain.
thanks for caring.

[Mom]

Got some really great news tonight. The test results show that my son's lung impairment is completely cleared up. His lungs are functioning 100%. I could hear the happiness in his voice. So, all of you who may be concerned, it took a year but his lungs repaired themselves. Life is Good. Dianne

[Scott]

Hip, hip, hooray!!

[Martin]

I had a PFT done before each cycle - never really declined to the point where my oncologist got worried. They would have cancelled the Bleomycin, though, and added a round of EP instead, had the lung function declined more then, I believe, 5% from the previous round.

I am not having any PFT's done since I finished chemo - and that is a year this week.

- Martin

[James]

Now a year out of chemo, lungs are getting better and better. Sometimes I do get winded easily. They are still not as good as pre-bleo but I heard they never will be that great again. In any event, I notice improvements as time goes on... My pulm. function test showed a little weak - and my CT scans still show "patchy infultrate" but its clearing up on each set of scans. I remember right after chemo I could hardly breath and would go into MAJOR coughing spells! (Especially when I hit the big one is Vegas - they thought they were going to have to haul me out of there in a ambulance because I got so excited I went into a 20 minute coughing spell!!)

The tiger stripes are now fading almost completely!!! YEA!!! So the body does heal itself.... Some fast - some slow...

IMO --- 4 hours skiing? Thats pretty darn good!! I dont think I could do that much. About an hour on the bike (in flat-land Florida) is about my max. So in that instance, Mom, he is doing pretty darn good!!