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Pneumonia and lung cancer

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Six months ago my father, age 68, was diagnosed with stage 3b lung cancer. He is currently on a break after 6 cycles of chemo, but has not "bounced back" as expected - even more tired and his cough has increased. A CT scan this week shows pneumonia in both lungs - or the doc says it's possibly an advancement of the cancer; however he his treating my father with antibiotics for one week and with then reassess. My question, in my father's condition, how serious is pneumonia?

Thank you for your reply.


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replied February 11th, 2008
Lung Cancer Answer A3632
One of the side effects of chemotherapy is that it weakens immunity. A weak immune system makes the body susceptible to various infections, including pneumonia. Lung cancer makes the body especially susceptible to the development of lung infections (pneumonia). Your father’s condition (lung cancer complicated with pneumonia) is very serious and unfortunately you can probably expect the worst very soon.


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replied November 19th, 2011
My husband has small cell lung....was coughing blood so went to ER, then admitted to hospital where he received 3 days of chemo. He was given antibiotics in IV drip but wa NEVER told he had pneumonia until yesterday...weeks following chemo. Doc said PET scan showed but NO DOCTOR ever saw PET scan even tho we KEPT asking them to please read report. Finally they did but did not communicate the pneumonia. Husband had a reaction to Ceftlin so 2 days short of finishing the prescription at home, he quit on DOCTOR'S orders. Rash went away but she chewed him out for stopping antibiotic. NUTS. He is now back on another antibiotic. How LONG will he have to take? Should he go to his pulmonary doctor to determine? Oncologist said the lungs "sounded clear." That was yesterday. He has had NO FEVER at all...very slight when he went into hospital but it was under control within 32 hours. Your post prompts these questions. Carol in Carolina
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replied December 13th, 2011
Non small cell lung cancer stage 3
My sister was diagnosed with Lung Cancer nine months ago. After radiation and chemo the pet scan showed no more cancer. This was non small cell stage 3. Recently she developed pneumonia. She stayed in the hospital for 7 days and was treated with antibiotics. She has been home for 4 weeks and still is not getting much better. She still has a hard time breathing. Is using oxygen and has no energy. Is this going to get better? They say the cancer is gone. Please advise....
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replied February 14th, 2012
Pneumona with one lung due to lung cancer on lifesupport
I am not a doctor or nurse, but my fiancee. Just had his lung removed last may from lung cancer 3b non small cell they told him that he had 2 lymph nodes in his neck but they did 6 months of chemo and 2 months of radiation, now he is in the hospital with pneumonia got it 2 Sundays ago, he is only 43 and on life support they keep giving me no hope! It took a week to tell it was bacterial, now they changed his antibiotics and he is breathing 100 percent on life support with a 12 peek ox status is 90 percent. he has a small touch of copd in that lung but when they did a bronc about 3 months ago there was no sign of cancer and she said it was pink and looked great! He has been doing blood work and everything has been coming back negative. The have him on 3 pain med, swelling med due to the ankles and hands, propeical, for sedation, 2 wide span antibiotics plus that bacterium one that they said that bacterium came back in the sprutim. Now they say that he is requiring too much oxygen and his white platelets arnt fighting! can a doctor help me ASAP. I don't have much time he has been on the life support for 1 week and 1 day. and they are try to tell me that he is not going to make it. nothing is wrong with any other organ.
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