Please spread the word: Post-chemo risk of blood clots/pulmonary issues

[Arugula Latte]

I have a relative who was treated successfully for colon cancer. After treatment, she had great pain in her chest and trouble breathing. Her doctor was not helpful. It got so bad she was rushed to the emergency room. Blood clots had traveled from her legs to her lungs as a result of chemo. She came very, very close to dying, but thank goodness she did survive. She had to be on oxygen for a few months afterwards, and her lungs are scarred permanently. I don't know why the doctor didn't know that pulmonary embolism was a distinct possibility after chemo. They could have caught it so much sooner.

Then this morning I read this horribly sad story about a man who also survived colon cancer only to die because of pulmonary fibrosis due to chemotherapy. His wife delivered their baby daughter two weeks early so he could see her before he died.

I don't think enough people know this risk associated with chemotherapy. If you or someone you know is going through chemo or has gone through it and has pain/breathing issues, etc., please get it checked out and make sure there are no blood clots present.

http://www.kval.com/news/national/Induced-labor-allows-dying-man-to-see-daughter--139194504.html