diving post leukemia? is it possible?

[trapmonkey]

In july 2008 i was diagnosed with Acute myeloid leukemia. I underwent 5 rounds of nasty high dose chemo therapy and while doing so contracted nasty MRSA infections that manifested in my lungs and nearly killed me.

Via God's grace and his guidance of my doctors i have managed to put that behind me and I am in complete remission now. I am aiming to go back to scuba diving in the new season Mar /april 2010 and am wondering if diving has any risks to someone wih my medical condition?

I am an experienced diver who has been diving since 1992 with over 500 dives on open circuit scuba. In fact i had only returned from my last dive trip for a fortnight or so before i was diagnosed with the cancer.

Any advice would be appreciated.

many thanks, Guy

 

[azchipka]

I can't think of any reason why not if your in remission. I have had students who are in remission. Check with your doctor and contact DAN for there advice. Be prepared to provide a medical form to dive shops.

 

[HBO MD]

Congratulations Trap !!
Well done and a long and happy life to you.

As to diving during remission ; that will depend on the nature of your therapy. Make sure that you did not receive any agents that were either cardio or pulmono-toxic. Your oncologist should be able to let you know.
If that is the case, don't despair. Ask to be evaluated in terms of overall organ function. In the absence of such drugs, you should be free to suit up and get wet.

Hope all works out well.

Good luck!

 

[trapmonkey]

the chemo therapies used could have been plumono-toxic... as some of the side effects were reduce lung function, but i will do a dive physical and chest x ray early next year before i strap my tank on again.

any research done on whether pressure has an effect on cancer cells and relapses and such by any chance? thanks for the advice... any other dive docs online? advice please?

cheers, guy (Trapmonkey)

 

[TSandM]

I would be extremely surprised if there were any literature on diving and leukemia. AML is rare, and the intersection of the set of AML patients and people who go into remission long enough to dive would be vanishingly small.

My big worry would be the MRSA in the lungs -- I'd want to be sure that there were no blebs or other pulmonary issues that would put you at increased risk for a pneumothorax with pressure changes, before I would consider it safe for you to go underwater. As previously stated, your oncology and pulmonologist are in a better place to evaluate this than we are on line.

That said -- life is short. We all evaluate risk in diving and decide what's worth it. If diving is your passion, you may well be in a position where taking a few greater risks are worth it.

 

[HBO MD]

In terms of the effect of pressure/cancer etc, there is the theoretical concern that high levels of O2 can enhance growth of cells. HOWEVER, you're not breathing hyperbaric oxygen. Even if you were, it is more damaging to malignant cells through the generation of toxic radicals. So this is not a worry.
In terms of the colonization by bugs, I would not consider this a concern, as your normal flora, or garden of normal bugs should have returned.
Lung function and Chest X ray/ CT chest can help determine if you have any blebs, compliance/restrictive/obstructive issues that could place you at risk.
Discuss the issues with your oncologist and then proceed with the appropriate evaluation for the safest way to pursue getting wet.

 

[wve]

I am a hematologist, and I treat leukemias.

If the leukemia is truly in remission (meaning your blood counts and bone marrow are normal), then I wouldn't be worried about the leukemia itself. Diving should not affect the risk of relapse, even using oxygen-enriched mixtures.

I would be more concerned about the long-term effects of the treatment. Before I passed someone to dive, I would likely want to see an echocardiogram and pulmonary function studies (including diffusion capacity) because the drugs we commonly use to treat acute leukemia can cause "silent" heart and lung damage. That is, not enough damage to cause symptoms, but enough to diminish a normal person's reserve capacities to the point that it could be dangerous for someone exposed to the physiologic stresses of diving.

You didn't say exactly what type of leukemia you had, but acute myeloid leukemias usually require more than one course of chemotherapy in order to maintain remission (consolidation therapy). So if you are still at a point where you may require more therapy, then you may want to put off diving until the risks can be better assessed.

 

[trapmonkey]

my leukemia was classified AML M1.... ctyogenetics were inv 16 with an odd G7 gene.

I had one immediate chemo followed by 4 rounds of high dose consolidation chemo... i ended chemo treatment feb 2009. bloodcounts are all low normal now though it has take months for me to get to this stage.

I intend to give diving a rest for this year, but may seek physicians advice to dive again next year.

the ecgs and lung tests have been done and have shown me to be normal so far

I give thanks to god every day that i am here to even think about going back to the sport i love

thanks for the advice guys.

 

[wve]

I intend to give diving a rest for this year, but may seek physicians advice to dive again next year.

the ecgs and lung tests have been done and have shown me to be normal so far

Well, if you have completed all your treatment, and if the disease is in remission, and if your doctors will sign off on your heart and lungs, then why wait? What better way to celebrate than to go diving!

(I'm not advising you to go, just saying I know what I would do in your situation...)

 

[Rhone Man]

I hope you do get comfortable enough to resume diving. My wife finally pushed her cancer into remission (lymphoma not leukemia though) a few years back and resumed doing the things she loved, she always said how everything seemed so much more wonderful when you have had to face the possibility you might never get to do it again.