scuba and chemo
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I'd be surprised if anytime after the first or second chemo session that someone has the energy to dive at all! Some of my family have been through chemo and it's fairly crippling towards the end - I guess no everybody is Lance Armstrong.
I don´t think there is much scientific knoledge about the effects of chemo on decompression. But chemo and the underlying disease might be important: examples: platelet counts, other drugs for pain control, general fitness, anemia, lost of conciuosness due to the tumor or secondary effects of chemo...
There are many tumors and chemos and very different, so it depends. And then there is the persons risk assumption + how bad he/she wants to dive.
There are many tumors and chemos and very different, so it depends. And then there is the persons risk assumption + how bad he/she wants to dive.
vetdiver
Contributor
First of all, I am sorry to hear that your friend requires chemo.
I had chemo for breast cancer in 2003, and I was not permitted to dive during treatment. The brief answer here is that your friend needs to discuss this issue with his/her oncologist - that is of tantamount importance, as this is the person taking responsibility for his or her treatment plan.
In truth, I was not too interested in diving during that time - I was in excellent cardiovascular shape and 33 at the time of treatment, and even though I was able to work full time and exercise relatively often, I was usually out of commission for 6 days or a week after every treatment (meaning I worked 7-8 hours, ate what I could, and slept the rest of the time!!!). I can tell you that I was very atypical for those I knew undergoing similar treatments - I know people my age who have been unable to work fulltime or do exercise more strenuous than walking.
That said, it depends what kind of chemo he/she is getting as to how he/she will feel - different drugs have different side effects, etc - but I felt as if an alien had taken over my body - REALLY bizarre stuff - it was NOT the time for me to be in the water, and I am the kind of girl who would be in my drysuit freezing my butt off on a daily basis!! My feeling (sorry about the soapbox) is that when one is in treatment for cancer, their number one priority should be ensuring that they stay as healthy as possible for the people around them who love them...and so that they can pursue their interests (such as diving) well into the future. It is not the time to be taking a chance with a sport that carries risks, many of which are still vague.
I was back in the water 3 months after chemo was over, once I started to feel like I had my body/self back a bit - and I have completed several hundred dives since that time without incident. On the recommendation of another scubaboard-er, I submit my data to DAN so that they have some numbers for statistical analysis - I'd recommend that your friend contact them, as well.
My best wishes to your friend - please tell them to stay strong and remember that chemo is a temporary situation - keep his/her chin up...
I had chemo for breast cancer in 2003, and I was not permitted to dive during treatment. The brief answer here is that your friend needs to discuss this issue with his/her oncologist - that is of tantamount importance, as this is the person taking responsibility for his or her treatment plan.
In truth, I was not too interested in diving during that time - I was in excellent cardiovascular shape and 33 at the time of treatment, and even though I was able to work full time and exercise relatively often, I was usually out of commission for 6 days or a week after every treatment (meaning I worked 7-8 hours, ate what I could, and slept the rest of the time!!!). I can tell you that I was very atypical for those I knew undergoing similar treatments - I know people my age who have been unable to work fulltime or do exercise more strenuous than walking.
That said, it depends what kind of chemo he/she is getting as to how he/she will feel - different drugs have different side effects, etc - but I felt as if an alien had taken over my body - REALLY bizarre stuff - it was NOT the time for me to be in the water, and I am the kind of girl who would be in my drysuit freezing my butt off on a daily basis!! My feeling (sorry about the soapbox) is that when one is in treatment for cancer, their number one priority should be ensuring that they stay as healthy as possible for the people around them who love them...and so that they can pursue their interests (such as diving) well into the future. It is not the time to be taking a chance with a sport that carries risks, many of which are still vague.
I was back in the water 3 months after chemo was over, once I started to feel like I had my body/self back a bit - and I have completed several hundred dives since that time without incident. On the recommendation of another scubaboard-er, I submit my data to DAN so that they have some numbers for statistical analysis - I'd recommend that your friend contact them, as well.
My best wishes to your friend - please tell them to stay strong and remember that chemo is a temporary situation - keep his/her chin up...
CameronMartz
Fitness Instructor
AndyNZ:
Hey, even Lance found himself stopping in the middle of a post-chemo ride thinking he was going to die. That said, some chemo regimens have fewer side effects than others, and it wouldn't surprise me to see someone with the *energy* to dive, at least.
I've trained several clients through both chemo and radiation treatments, and I have to say that for some people, having an activity to look forward to really helps get them through. That's a whole world different than saying diving is safe to do medically, but I can certainly appreciate the importance that diving might have to someone facing cancer and its treatment. I think Miguel get's to this point- the risks might be worth it to your friend, but it is certainly prudent to know what they are when making the decision.
Cameron
Saturation
Medical Moderator
So long as the chemo patient can pass a fitness to dive examination, they are good to dive. Many of the debilitating effects are temporary, and a few are permanent: cardiac, liver, kidney, failure; lung fibrosis. Many other effects can occur, thus the issue of fitness to dive.
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Okay, now I too have a friend starting Chemo - new diver, newly diagnosed with Stage 1 to 2 Leukemia, doing one IV session today, followed by 6 weeks of oral chemo if I understand correctly, then follow up testing.
She was told No Diving during treatment, and unless given good information otherwise, she plans to follow those orders, but hates it.
I wonder if some easy, newbie type Florida Keys diving might be okay, depending on how it goes....?
She was told No Diving during treatment, and unless given good information otherwise, she plans to follow those orders, but hates it.
I wonder if some easy, newbie type Florida Keys diving might be okay, depending on how it goes....?
Saturation
Medical Moderator
Hi DD:
Chemo varies for different tumors, and people respond to them differently. Its very individualized.
Its best to hold of diving while on chemo because the point of treatment is to kill the tumor. Most tumors require oxygen, and its theoretically possible for hyperbaric 02 to enhance tumor growth and reduce the chance of cure while in between treatments [note: experiments in using hyperoxia to enhance tumor destruction is under investigation. Hyperoxia causes tumors to increase their metabolism, and hopefully uptake chemotherapies faster than without it.]
Second, chemo is often toxic too to the rest of the body, its just that the tumor is more sensitive to it than most normal tissues. What can occur is unpredictable, and the effects become increasingly likely the longer the treatments are. The oncologist will monitor blood tests routinely to check for side effects.
Third, chemo requiring infusaports or equivalents that are not subdermal should not dive. Those that are subdermal, should be clarified with the manufacturer of a specific port. While there is no issue swimming, diving is a different issue. Most patients I know who have ports are just barely able to function, so participation in a light sport has frankly not come up.
Diving, OTAH, will increase the well being of the patient and good morale increases the chances for success after treatment.
On return to diving, the patient should be cleared for same by the oncologist. The focal point for them is cardiorespiratory: is the patient safe to run a marathon if they feel like it? If yes, most of the hurdles are gone. If Lance Armstrong can do it, so can you.
Second, the patient should have the physical strength to do the dives and should return themselves to a level of fitness. They should not require assistance because of weakness.
Third, go slow on return to the water. Many mucosa are affected by chemo, and most importantly are those in the nose and eustachian tubes. Make sure equalization is intact. If mucositis developed and led to scaring, there can be problems here. Most recover to normalcy.
Lastly, do all these check outs in a pool with a buddy. If all is well at 8', it should be fine beyond it.
Chemo varies for different tumors, and people respond to them differently. Its very individualized.
Its best to hold of diving while on chemo because the point of treatment is to kill the tumor. Most tumors require oxygen, and its theoretically possible for hyperbaric 02 to enhance tumor growth and reduce the chance of cure while in between treatments [note: experiments in using hyperoxia to enhance tumor destruction is under investigation. Hyperoxia causes tumors to increase their metabolism, and hopefully uptake chemotherapies faster than without it.]
Second, chemo is often toxic too to the rest of the body, its just that the tumor is more sensitive to it than most normal tissues. What can occur is unpredictable, and the effects become increasingly likely the longer the treatments are. The oncologist will monitor blood tests routinely to check for side effects.
Third, chemo requiring infusaports or equivalents that are not subdermal should not dive. Those that are subdermal, should be clarified with the manufacturer of a specific port. While there is no issue swimming, diving is a different issue. Most patients I know who have ports are just barely able to function, so participation in a light sport has frankly not come up.
Diving, OTAH, will increase the well being of the patient and good morale increases the chances for success after treatment.
On return to diving, the patient should be cleared for same by the oncologist. The focal point for them is cardiorespiratory: is the patient safe to run a marathon if they feel like it? If yes, most of the hurdles are gone. If Lance Armstrong can do it, so can you.
Second, the patient should have the physical strength to do the dives and should return themselves to a level of fitness. They should not require assistance because of weakness.
Third, go slow on return to the water. Many mucosa are affected by chemo, and most importantly are those in the nose and eustachian tubes. Make sure equalization is intact. If mucositis developed and led to scaring, there can be problems here. Most recover to normalcy.
Lastly, do all these check outs in a pool with a buddy. If all is well at 8', it should be fine beyond it.
DandyDon:
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