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I'm writing today on behalf of a friend in a rural area in the
western U.S. who has just recently been diagnosed with cancer who will
soon be starting chemotherapy. I've pasted at the bottom of this
email, her request to me, which she's posted on an email discussion
list, but also gave me permission to circulate.
She's a fairly new CPAP user, and is still working on becoming
fully compliant with the equipment. She lives in a two-story home,
and will likely be home alone during the day. One thing she wants to
find out is if it would be possible to argue with her health insurance
company to rent or purchase a second CPAP unit while she undergoes the
chemotherapy. She's been told by her oncologist that she will be weak
and worn during and after the treatments, and she doesn't want to risk
dropping her CPAP machine trying to take it downstairs when she wakes
up for the day. Since she's likely to be waking after everyone else
is gone for the day, it would be up to her to take it downstairs, or
try to struggle (her words, based on what her oncologist has said) to
get upstairs for a nap, and then back downstairs when she wakes from
the nap. Her home has a partial bath downstairs, so bathroom visits
will be easy.
She spoke with her primary care physician and oncologist about the
possible effects of apnea and/or chronic fatigue on chemotherapy. She
said she's been trying to find information from journals, but hasn't
yet uncovered anything. She also says that neither her internist nor
sleep doctor have any other apnea patients who have gone chemotherapy,
so they have no suggestions or comment.
So, in short, I guess it boils down to:
do you know of any studies or articles published about the
impact chemo has on apneics?
do you know of the physical/sleep impact chemo has on
apneics?
do you know of any sources she might try to contact or
search, in order to find some information to help her prepare?
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-You don't mention the site of cancer. I would imagine that esophageal,
throat (head and neck cancers) or lung/broncogenic cancer could affect
apnea, perhaps brain tumors also.
Tumors around the carotid artery and/or the spine can affect/cause apnea.
Lungs mets from primary cancers (breast as an example) can affect/cause
apnea.
In the archives, ovarian removal causes weight gain, steroids sometimes
necessary for the brain can cause weight gain (edema) so perhaps could
affect apnea negatively and fatigue. Depending on the location, radiation therapy may affect/cause apnea.
But I don't have proof (if there is any) that chemo can affect apnea. Anemia is watched for, which can negatively impact breathing. Because of the (possible) fatigue, if she lives alone, she may wish to
move her bedroom downstairs with all her equipment) for the duration until
she feels stronger again. (and only use the upstairs bathroom for bathing)
etc. -The person I had in mind did not have chemotherapy. and said ask the
oncologist or sleep doctor, so I'm afraid that's not helpful in your/her
situation.
The other thing you could try is getting the name of the chemo agent and
running Google search along with the phrase "side effects"
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