Lung Damage (Acute Pulmonary Toxicity)

Source: Onclogy Resource Centre

Some cancer treatments may cause lung damage. The damage may include inflammation or pneumonitis, which reduces the amount of oxygen that can be absorbed.

Lung tissue is normally very elastic and it expands as you breathe, in order to provide a larger space for air.

Another kind of damage is scarring or fibrosis, which reduces the elasticity of the lungs, and reduces the amount of air that can be taken in.

Fibrosis can occur several months after pneumonitis has healed or it can occur without any inflammation. Fibrosis may be progressive - meaning it gets worse with time, and may become a long-term complication.

Comment from Cancer Answers:

What medical treatment causes lung damage?
Both chemotherapy and radiation therapy may cause lung damage.

Radiation to the chest cavity commonly causes lung toxicity. Cancers that may be treated with radiation to the chest cavity include breast cancer, lung cancer, and Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Symptoms may not occur until 2-3 months after radiation treatment.

Is there a treatment to reverse lung damage?
There is no specific treatment to reverse lung damage