Respiratory System

Summarize

main points

Some children with cancer are more likely to develop long-term effects on their lungs after treatment
Certain treatments increase the risk of long-term effects in the lungs
Long-term effects on the lungs can lead to certain health problems
Symptoms and signs caused by long-term effects on the lungs
A test used to determine if there is a problem with the lungs
Habits that promote lung health are important for children who have recovered from cancer

Epidemiological

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Etiology & Risk Factors

Other risk factors

The risk of long-term effects from lung cancer is greater in children who have recovered from surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. The risk also increases in those with the following medical history:

Infection or graft-versus-host disease occurs after stem cell transplantation
Prior to cancer treatment, have a lung or airway disease such as asthma
anomalies of chest wall
Inhalation of smoke or other toxic substances

Possible health problems

Radiation pneumonia (inflammation of the lungs caused by radiation therapy)
Pulmonary fibrosis (formation of scar tissue in the lungs)
Other lung and airway problems, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pneumonia, persistent cough, asthma

Classification & Staging

Type of cancer

hodgkin lymphoma
Hodgkin's disease tumor
Cancer treated with stem cell transplants

Clinical Manifestations

S&S

Breathing difficulties (shortness of breath), especially during activity
pant
have a fever
Chronic cough
Congestion in the lungs
Chronic lung infections
Feeling tired

If your child has any of these problems, please consult your child's doctor.

Long-term effects of lung cancer in childhood cancer survivors may develop slowly over time or may not be present at all. Pulmonary damage may sometimes only be detected through imaging or pulmonary function tests. Long-term effects on the lungs may improve over time.

Clinical Department

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Examination & Diagnosis

test mode

Physical exam and medical history: A general physical exam of the body's signs of health, including checking for signs of disease, such as lumps or other unusual things. Learn about the patient's health habits and past illnesses and treatments.
Chest X-ray: An X-ray of the internal organs and bones of the chest.
Pulmonary function test (PFT): A test to check lung function.

A lung function test checks how much air the lungs can hold and how quickly air moves in and out of the lungs. It also measures how much oxygen is used during breathing and how much carbon dioxide is released.

Talk to your child's doctor about whether your child needs these tests to determine the long-term effects on the lungs. If a test is needed, determine how often it will be done.

Clinical Management

therapeutic tool

Surgery to remove all or part of a lung or chest wall.
Chemotherapy. Patients receiving chemotherapy, such as bleomycin, busulfan, carmustine or lomustine, and those receiving chest radiation therapy have a high risk of lung damage.
Chest radiotherapy. For survivors of radiation to the chest, lung and chest wall damage depends on the dose of radiation, whether all or part of the lung and chest wall was exposed to radiation, whether radiation was administered in small doses, daily doses, and the age of the child being treated.
Whole body irradiation (TBI) prior to stem cell transplantation or certain types of chemotherapy.

Prognosis

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Follow-up & Review

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Daily Care

Prevention and health care

Smoking

Get the flu and pneumococcal vaccines

Cutting-edge therapeutic and clinical Trials

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References

Source:

PDQ® Pediatric Treatment Editorial Board. PDQ Late Effects of Treatment for Childhood Cancer. Bethesda, MD: National Cancer Institute. Website: https://www.cancer.gov/types/childhood-cancers/late-effects-pdq. Date accessed: July 24,2018. [PMID: 26389365]

Translated by Qian Yueping (Senior Manager, Medical Device Industry, Medical Clinical Affairs Department, PhD in Biology)