A very hard question....

[scubabunny]

In January, my dad was diagnosed with lung cancer. Surgery and radiation are not options, but they are using Chemo to treat it. From what I understand, chemo can stop the growth...for a while. But, it will come back.

Now to my question. One of the things that my dad REALLY wants to do, is go diving with me... just once. He grew up around the bay in Maryland, and has always been fascinated with the ocean. He loves to talk about diving with me, and learning about the equipment and lingo and...well, everything! The deal is...when he gets through the worst part of this, he and my mom will meet me in the Bahamas, and he wants to dive (only to 20 feet or so...has no intention of getting certified).

I am not an instructor. I'm not even a dive master. Do you think ANYONE would sign him off for an intro? Or...should I just take him myself. That scares me...but...its my dad. But if something happened...

If an instructor knew his situation, do you think they would bend the rules? Is there such a thing as a "no liability" waiver? I'm sorry if I rambled a bit. Any suggestions?

 

[Ari]

Sorry to hear about your dad. My mother had a short fight with cancer about 3 year ago and lost.

Anyway, why should he not dive? If he is in the middle of treatment, he will be too weak, but if he feels good and is not instructed, for some reason, otherwise by his doctor, he shouldn't have a problem to do an intro, or a snuba dive. I guess he should direct this question to his doctor or to a diving specialist, in order to get a confirmed answer, but I would guess that he should be allowed to dive.

I would not recomend that you do it yourself, if you are not certified to do intro's. But than again, I would say the same if he wasn't sick.

The important thing is for all of you to be strong and support him through his fight with cancer. I am keeping my fingers crossed for you.

Ari =-)

 

[BillP]

Hi scubabunny:

Sorry to hear about you father. A potential problem with lung cancer is that it can obstruct airways. Scuba diving with obstructed airways can lead to lung overpressurization injuries and arterial gas embolism. Snorkeling on the surface would not lead to an overpressurization injury.

Take care,

Bill

 

[John Reinertson]

BillP's response is quite accurate.

If there is a segment of lung on the other side of the cancer that some air can get past, but is not freely ventilated, you risk getting a situation where air trapped beyond the tumor (or other obstruction) would expand on ascending and could rupture the lung sacs to produce a collapsed lung. The trapped air could also be forced into the bloodstream and produce a stroke or other symptoms of an Arterial Gas Embolism.

Either of these could easily cripple your father or take his life.
If this were how he wished to die (or risk dying), that might be a matter of individual choice. However, a diving accident like that would, in most parts of the world, trigger a response from the emergency medical system that could put others lives at risk from the rescue and chamber treatments, etc.

If I understand your request, your father is looking for a way to share something that brings joy to you and would allow him to try something he's always wanted to do.

Another option would be to take a vacation to a place where he could snorkel with you, then possibly do a submersible ride to approximate the SCUBA experience without the risk.

I hope you can find a way to make this a happy experience for both of you. Please consider doing it in a way that won't risk shortening his remaining time but will allow as much of the underwater experience as possible. There are submersibles off Grand Cayman, (or at least there were) and I believe in the Bahamas.

Good luck at helping your father realize his deams and desires without endangering others or shortening your remaining time together.

John

 

[Uncle Pug]

I know what I'd do....

 

[Uncle Pug]

Scuba Bunny,
Last year my dad had lung cancer...
The Docs wanted to chemo him...
I went in with him for the first treatment & asked the Dr. to be honest....
If this were his 90 year old father sitting here would he pull at stunt like this....
He hung his head and said, "My father died last year.... no."
So I sez to the real Uncle Pug, "Well."
He sez, "Looks like my time is up... lets go home."
So I took him home and we had a sweet couple of days together...
And then he died... in my home.... but he wasn't sick and miserable...
He was where he wanted to be...
And he went to where he wanted to go...
And we had quality time...
So you know what I'd do.

 

[scubabunny]

Thank you for your replies. Uncle Pug and Ari, I'm sorry for both your losses. I'm glad your father was happy Uncle Pug..that is the most important thing...living life to way you want to.

Actually, I got good news from the doctors today (well...from my mom...but it came from the doctors). All the scans my dad went through came out clean, so they are saying there is a good chance of him going into remission. What exactly does that mean? I'm 10,000 miles away from the doctors...so asking them myself is kind of hard. If he is in remission is diving still so dangerous?

note: the reason they can't operate is because the tumor is wrapped around the main artery to the lungs...guess that wouldn't be good!

Do any of you good docs have some links to help me understand this a little more?

Thanks again for all your support. Please keep my dad in your prayers.

 

[Ari]

This is exactly what I meant by saying you have to speak to his doctors.

Only by seeing his actual condition, location of the tumer and other relevant data, you will be able to get a confirmed reply to your question. It might make sense to have a phone call with his private doctor, the one that has all the actual data, so the discussion will be less academic and more informative.

What ever the decision is, I wish him to feel good and get well. It is a difficult fight and I believe that support from his loved one, will support him at this difficult time.

Please let us know how it works out.

Ari

 

[livestodive]

Uncle Pug I agree with you. I am a survivor of cancer, at least so far. Every day is a good day, and those I get wet are Great!!!! You keep your chin up and your dad too!!

 

[DocVikingo]

Hi scubabunny,

Sorry to hear the sad news about your father, but the remission situation is a definite bright spot.

"Remission" refers to the positive response of cancer to treatment. Complete remission means the cancer has disappeared to examination; partial remission means that it has responded somewhat, but not entirely.

Remission, however, does not mean "cure," or the complete absence of cancer. Cancer often reappears after a period of remission, sometimes many years after. Of course, the longer one is without demonstrable evidence of cancer the better.

As for scuba, the fact that post-chemo scanning indicates remission of pulmonary cancer does not mean that there are no longer any abnormalities of the involved tissues. There is substantial doubt that these have returned to their pre-disease condition. There is also the issue of one's stamina following the appearance of cancer and subsequent chemotherapy. And, any medication one may be taking on a continuing basis could have implications for diving.

Since you say he will not be seeking certification, then you are looking at an "intro" or "resort course." Even with such a course at a foreign location, like the Bahamas, any reputable dive op almost certainly will insist that he complete a medical status/release form. If he is truthful and reports recent cancer, he may well be rejected.

As for, "Or...should I just take him myself," I suspect that a moment's sober reflection on this question will lead you to the appropriate answer.

BTW, your mention of him only wanting to go to 20' or so really is not of any help. As Drs. Reinertson & BillP have indicated in their responses, lung overpressurization injury and arterial gas embolism are the primary concerns here. As you'll recall from your basic scuba training, upon ascent the greatest expansion of gases within the lung occur in the last 33'. Nuff said?

If it were my father, I'd try real hard to sell him on snorkeling. I've seen some outrageously lovely reef & tropical marine life in very shallow water.

This is educational only and does not constitute or imply a doctor-patient relationship. It is not medical advice to you or any other individual, and should not be construed as such. An individual with a history of lung cancer who is insistent upon pursuing the possibility diving should secure clearance from a physician knowledgeable in dive medicine.

Best of luck.

DocVikingo