Seeking answer to my question - Cancer: Lung Message Board

gnik · 11-02-2006, 09:28 AM

Hi everyone. Seeking some info and would appreciate any answers. My husband has NSLC Stage 4 and Emphysema. He has had two GI bleeds that put him in the hospital and this month he had another hospital caused by dehydration and he had some loss of blood. I just want to give this little bit of info and to tell you that my question has nothing to do with these incidents as far as I know.

My question if: Can dog dander and dog hair (quite a bit of dog hair and don't know the amount of the dander) cause problems for someone like John, (my husband)? He has a third of his healthy lung gone due to pneumonia and he has a fungus ball in this lung. The left lung has the cancer and the bottom half of his left lung is deflated because of fluid buildup.

Any help appreciated.

linda

Merimac · 11-02-2006, 09:44 AM

I can only tell you my story and let you decide. My brother passed away from Non-small cell squamous Carcinoma in 2002. He had a cockerspaniel which was an expensive breed with papers. He loved that dog and the dog had been in the family for 13 years. After my brother received Chemo, the doctors told him that he would have to put the dog outside or on the porch to live, because of the various funguses and parasites the dog "might" have, that would not effect the dog at all but would lead to my brother's death if he contracted anything. My brother did as told, but had other complications that occurred similar to collapsed lungs fluid build up and eventually the aortic vein was metatastized. The cancer treatments that my brother could have had were not available soon enough due to my brother being a smoker and not taking his symptoms seriously. By the time he went to the doctor he was too far along to help. It was not his fault for not knowing or believing. He grew up in an era where smoking was not regarded as much of a problem to anyone except those who did not smoke. It is a fast changing world sometimes. I hope this helps you. I still vote for quality of life rather than quantity.

Janmarie2 · 11-02-2006, 11:21 AM

Linda, My mom has two dogs and a cat and her oncologist never told her to put them outside and actually when I am down there are 4 dogs as my two travel with me.Mom is around the animals all the time and they are a huge source of comfort to her. My one dog is mom's self appointed physical therapist as she constantly brings her toys to throw. She also tends to put on a one dog comedy show just when it is needed the most. She must know laughter is the best medicine!

The hospital I work at has a big pet therapy service and they spend alot of time on the oncology floor visiting people. I think the only time they are not allowed to visit is when people are in isolation be it protective such as neutropenic or containment to protect others such as TB, C-dif .MRSA,etc. And they only visit people that have requested the service.
I will add that when I walk in a patient's room at the start of my shift ( I work 6:30pm to 7:00 AM) I know if the dogs have visited as the people tend to be more upbeat and often they tell me about the dogs visiting with a huge smile on their faces.It just makes their whole day and has changed the attitude of the place in a very postive way.

I would think that if your husband had no previous allergies to dog dander ( it is usually the animal saliva not the actual hair that is a problem) it would not be a problem now. I would just try to keep the amounts down.

I also feel that healthy dogs that see a vet on a regular basis and are kept clean provide more comfort to people then risk from catching something from them. You might want John to limit or avoid contact with the dogs when his WBC's are low and he is neutropenic as even people contact needs to be avoided then.Those are just my thoughts.Sending prayers John's way. JanMarie

gnik · 11-03-2006, 07:28 AM

Thanks for responding with such good infomation. We haven't made a final decision as to what we will do. I have allergies and that too plays into the decision as to whether we keep her (our dog Ebby) or not.

John is having fluid drawn from the sac (pleural) around his lung on Monday. This will be the first time for this procedure. He is 6' tall and weighs 129. Just so very thin. He is experiencing more fatigue but, thank God, he is still pain free. He is coughing much more and I hope that will get better with the drainage of the fluid.

We had lunch out yesterday and he enjoyed being out. We have a lot of eating places close to us so I try to get him out to eat when he feels up to it. He has always loved to eat out. I tell him its because I'm a bad cook.

October 22 was a year since his diagnosis. We have been blessed in many ways even though he has nsclc, Stage IV. I don't know what lies ahead but will face it when the time comes.

linda

Janmarie2 · 11-03-2006, 10:11 AM

Linda ,

John should feel better after the thorocentesis to get the fluid off his lung. Pleural effusions can cause both the increased fatigue and increased cough. My mom always looked horrible when she had an effusion then after draining it would look much better and the coughing,which was worst when she layed down to sleep would go away. I will keep my fingers ccrossed that John sees the same results. Glad to hear that he is still enjoying eating out.

My thoughts and prayers will be with you on Monday. My mom ( who had 3 done) says the thorocentsesis procedure is not bad.

JanMarie