Cancer after transplant

kusa
kusa Member Posts: 5
edited March 2014 in Lung Cancer #1
Has anyone had experience with cancer following an organ transplant?
My Dad is 72. Diagnosed years ago, in his 40s I think it was, with a kidney disease he said they called some kind of nephritis. Controlled for a long time with low potassium diet. During that time he also developed type 2 diabetes. Eventually had to do dialysis but had a kidney transplant after not too long. That was over 10 years ago. About 4 1/2 years ago noticed nipple inverted. That turned out to be breast cancer so it was treated with surgery. Lymph nodes all negative so no radiation. Now suspected lung cancer. Shadow on chest xray not resolved with antibiotics, Chest CT showed opacities right upper lobe which Dr says could still be infection but possible tumor or continued infection due to a blockage caused by a tumor. Bronchoscopy done last Friday and he has Dr appointment tomorrow. He is in the Uk. I live in Texas but my sister is there with him. She said he was told chemoo not an option with breast cancer due to kidney transplant/immunosuppression. If this turns out to be what we are afraid of, is there any treatment available that is effective for someong with this history of transplant, breast cancer, diabetes.
Sorry to waffle on but I'm really worried. We just lost our Mom a year and a half ago unexpectedly and I am just not ready to lose my Dad too

Comments

  • sueliz61
    sueliz61 Member Posts: 6
    #2
    Cancer after transplant.
    Kusa, I am so sorry to hear about your father's troubles.
    My husband has poly-cystic kidney disease and had a tranplant 20 years ago. He has been on immunosupprescent drugs for 20 years. In July 2008 he became very ill - developed type1 diabetes and had sinus problems. He was dx with non-hodgkins lymphoma in Jan 2009. He had CHOP-R chemo for 5 months. It was hard for him and his blood counts have not yet recovered.
    He was dx with nsclc Feb 1st this year and is going through radiation treatments now. They think his cancers have been caused by being on the drugs for so many years, but had no reservations about giving him chemotherapy. He will start new chemo after radiation is done if he is not too weak.
    His kidney function has gone down but the numbers are still within an ok range.
    So we have had him around and vital for 20 yrs because of the immuno drugs but they have caused health issues now. I would ask for a 2nd opinion on the chemo therapy.
    I hope things turn out well for your Dad and hope this helped.
    Sue
  • kusa
    kusa Member Posts: 5
    #3
    sueliz61 said:

    Cancer after transplant.
    Kusa, I am so sorry to hear about your father's troubles.
    My husband has poly-cystic kidney disease and had a tranplant 20 years ago. He has been on immunosupprescent drugs for 20 years. In July 2008 he became very ill - developed type1 diabetes and had sinus problems. He was dx with non-hodgkins lymphoma in Jan 2009. He had CHOP-R chemo for 5 months. It was hard for him and his blood counts have not yet recovered.
    He was dx with nsclc Feb 1st this year and is going through radiation treatments now. They think his cancers have been caused by being on the drugs for so many years, but had no reservations about giving him chemotherapy. He will start new chemo after radiation is done if he is not too weak.
    His kidney function has gone down but the numbers are still within an ok range.
    So we have had him around and vital for 20 yrs because of the immuno drugs but they have caused health issues now. I would ask for a 2nd opinion on the chemo therapy.
    I hope things turn out well for your Dad and hope this helped.
    Sue

    good news
    Thank you so much. That's great that the donated kidney has lasted that long but it's not easy to have more issues to deal with after having already had to have a transplant. Sometimes it's one thing after another but they must be pretty strong to have weathered this much and made it through. I hope your husband is able to keep tolerating the treatment and that all ends well.
    We got good news today. My Dad saw the pulmonary Dr and he said he has a fungal infection which is much better than cancer. Gave him steroids for 4 months and is checking with the renal Dr before he tells him to fill the prescription for the antifungal as it may interfere with anti rejection med.Will recheck cxr and chest CT in a month and hopefully see improvement. If not, another bronchoscopy but he seemed pretty sure this is the problem.
    K
  • sueliz61
    sueliz61 Member Posts: 6
    #4
    kusa said:

    good news
    Thank you so much. That's great that the donated kidney has lasted that long but it's not easy to have more issues to deal with after having already had to have a transplant. Sometimes it's one thing after another but they must be pretty strong to have weathered this much and made it through. I hope your husband is able to keep tolerating the treatment and that all ends well.
    We got good news today. My Dad saw the pulmonary Dr and he said he has a fungal infection which is much better than cancer. Gave him steroids for 4 months and is checking with the renal Dr before he tells him to fill the prescription for the antifungal as it may interfere with anti rejection med.Will recheck cxr and chest CT in a month and hopefully see improvement. If not, another bronchoscopy but he seemed pretty sure this is the problem.
    K

    Good News
    That is indeed wonderful news and I hope he is able to take the anti-fungal medication - I don't see why he couldn't.
    Hope you have continued good luck.
    Sue
  • augigi
    augigi Member Posts: 89
    #5
    sueliz61 said:

    Good News
    That is indeed wonderful news and I hope he is able to take the anti-fungal medication - I don't see why he couldn't.
    Hope you have continued good luck.
    Sue

    Many antifungal meds,
    Many antifungal meds, particularly those ending in -azole, interfere with a LOT of other meds. There are other options for antifungal meds though, such as the echinocandins.

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