Scuba Diving after Bleomycin??

[ghjones]

Does anyone have any information about whether it would still be safe for someone to Scuba-dive post-chemo bleomycin? I finished 3xBEP in April and my Oncologist could not tell me either way.

[dadmo]

ghjones:
This comes up more often then you would think. Follow this link
Scuba for some good information. In general you can do no diving in the first 2 years after BEP, after that you will need to get your lungs checked and even if you get the ok you will need to stay with 2 atmospheres of the surface. I do quite a bit of scuba diving but Don is the real master in this area, if he doesn't see to this thread you may want to send him a private message.

[Don]

Ghjones,

Dadmo is spot-on with his response... You could try to have the pulmonary function test after 18 months but you really should wait at least 24 months and you can (normally-as long as you didn't sustain heavy lung damage from Bleo) dive down to 66 feet(20.116 meters) in depth safely ....You can always snorkle for the time being while waiting the 2 years and if your going into the Carribean,Spain,Virgin Island etc. Their is great snorkling at about 15-25 feet.... I some cases I almost preferre to do that instead of hauling a bunch of gear!!!!!! Have Fun and Hope you are doing well!!!!

[dadmo]

Just to add to that response. If you are a free diver your depth of decent should not be an issue because you will not be breathing compressed air.

[BeachTech]

Ask a pulmonologist to test you

As a PADI certified diver, this was a concern to me. My oncologist didn't know either. I read the info here and was discouraged.

Since I had prior lung issues (asthma as a kid), at my insistance, I had a pulmonologist watch me during chemo. After about six weeks of Bleo (once a week), I was having a hard time breathing. He did an x-ray and saw the beginnings of inflamation and scar tissue. He also saw that my lung capacity had gone from 88% pre-chemo to 51%. He immediately ordered the Bleo be stopped. He then put me on high doses of Prednisone (anti-inflamitory) and I bounced back.

My pulmonologist told me that there is a test he can give me to see if I would be able to dive in the future. I haven't taken the test or asked details since I plan on abstaining from SCUBA diving for two years post-chemo. Not a big deal for me since I only dive during vacations (I live near Los Angeles, and it really isn't worth diving around here , in my opinion).

Bottom line-see a pulmonologist before you think about diving. There may be hope for diving again.
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[ghjones]

Thanks for the advice chaps, much appreciated. I think I'll delay booking any holidays to the Red Sea for at least a couple of years!