CPAP (Phillips recall) and Cancer

Hello @johnra – John, I see this is your first post.
Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect, an online community where people can share experiences and ask each other questions about any health issue.
We are not medical professionals who can offer medical advice.

I see the recall by Phillips you refer to is due to the filter media that has been used which could cause some health issues.
I would expect that there are many people who use CPAP machines that have a variety of illnesses, where the CPAP would not be relevant cause in any way. (not dismissing that it could not be however)
Being a cancer survivor myself, I can understand why you are seeking a reason for your diagnosis. I know for me, I ask myself quite often, why did this happen to me? I usually end at things just happen in most cases.

Are you on a particular treatment for CEL?
How are you feeling?

Stay safe,
Bob

Hello Bob,
The company that makes the Respironics CPAP mentions in its own recall notice that the emissions from their equipment could cause cancer. So, if possible, I am going to hold them responsible for their error. I only ask about others so that they may know that they may have recourse.
I have been taking taking hydroxyurea for approximately ten months, and feel well.
I will keep the board up to date with my legal actions.

Regards,
John...

Hi Bob @grandpabob and John @johnra - Yikes! I have a Dreamstation and a Dreamstation Go and am primarily using the Dreamstation Go which I bought a little over a year ago. Both are on the recall which says "The components in question are made of polyester-based polyurethane (PE-PUR) foam and are used to make the machines quieter. The problem is that, as testing has demonstrated, this foam can pose risks to patients by: Degrading into particles that the user may ingest and Off-gassing chemicals that the user could inhale" --- https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/philips-cpap-recall-breaking-news-update-4880192/

It sounds like the issue is foam that is used to make the machine quieter (reduce vibration?).

I think I will contact my Mayo sleep medicine doc to see if I need to get another machine. Thanks for starting this discussion @johnra.

I have had initial discussions with an attorney, and will keep the list updated with progress. My "provider" indicated that I might be supplied with parts to update my machine. That did not make me feel happy.

Hi @johnra, I'd like to add my welcome. You mention that you have chronic eosinophilic leukemia (CEL), a rare myeloproliferative neoplasm that causes the body to make too many (overproduce) eosinophils in the bone marrow.

Are you currently in treatment or is yours a situation of watch and wait (active surveillance) at the moment?

See answer above.

Im on the resmed air sense ten I dont have cancer at least I dont think I do I have bumps all over the place some of which are painful but they dont seem to be too concerned about them but I do have some blood disorders which are not cancerous noones ever told me about cpaps causing cancer so this is new knowledge to me if cpap cause cancer maybe you should ask the doctor which CPAPS would be safe to use that dont cause cancer ive never heard of a cpap emitting gasses only that it emits air

@patientk, This discussion was started due to a recall on a specific brand of CPAP machine - Philips Respironics.
ResMed and other manufacturers are not included in the cancer cause for concern.

Here is the recall notice:
Medical Device recall notification (U.S. only) / field safety notice (International Markets)
Philips Respironics -- https://www.usa.philips.com/healthcare/e/sleep/communications/src-update

My husband was using CPAP for about 2 years and out of the blue was diagnosed with lymphoma. I am not saying that CPAP is the cause of his cancer; however, it is worth investigating the facts to protect future CPAP users. I am very interested in learning more about your findings. Thank you!

You should call an attorney.