Lung cancer and got COVID with pneumonia: Anyone else?

@jeffahuber Hi there and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect

I am so sorry you are going through complications from COVID in addition to having lung cancer.

Here is a blog that gives some interesting information about lung cancer and COVID.
https://www.lung.org/blog/lung-cancer-covid-19
COVID-19 and Lung Cancer Treatment
So much is still unknown about the lasting impacts of the COVID-19 infection. In lung cancer patients who have contracted COVID-19, it is especially difficult to tell the difference between the symptoms of a lingering COVID infection versus the underlying lung cancer. In lung cancer patients with lasting COVID-19 infections, Dr. Cummings is seeing continued breathlessness, shortness of breath, cough and feeling limited in normal activities. When Dr. Cummings sees a patient who is symptomatic and has had the COVID-19 infection, she is highly vigilant about monitoring their cancer treatment side effects. She notes, “We are most concerned about side effects from immunotherapy in patients who have lingering COVID infections. Immunotherapy harnesses the power of the immune system which is already overreacting in the case of long COVID. This can cause side effects of the treatment to be more intense.” She goes on to say, “To date, we haven’t seen any major issues and we have many tools that can help us treat side effects from immunotherapy. But we always watch the patient very closely.”

In terms of chemotherapy, long COVID patients who receive chemo may feel better, because chemotherapy can help reduce inflammation in the body caused by COVID-19. The last major treatment consideration is for patients facing thoracic surgery. Thoracic surgeons have seen worse outcomes in patients who are operated on too soon after a COVID infection, so sometimes these patients are given chemotherapy or radiation until they can have surgery.

What are your doctors saying? Are you still in the hospital and what symptoms are you experiencing?

Hi @jeffahuber, I moved your message to the Lung Cancer group here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/lung-cancer/

I did this so you can connect with other lung cancer patients like @erv58 @richcolleen @jannad and @crawdad to name a few.

Jeff, did you have to stop immunotherapy treatment? Have they got the pneumonia under control? How are you doing?

I had to stop immunotherapy for almost two years I stayed stable now I’m starting Keytruda tomorrow.

yes stopped after only 1 treatment. pneumonia is getting better .still on high levels of oxygen just wondering if i will ever get off the oxygen

Jeff, I think only your doctors can give you an educated answer to that question as they know all the details of your medical history and current status. Has pulmonary rehab been suggested to you?

im sure you are right about that but they dont have any idea. i was hoping for someones experience.
i see a pulmonologist in a few weeks i plan on asking about rehab.

I never had pneumonia or Covid yet but have stage 4 lung cancer. Had 7 months of 4 different types of chemo. Quit only cause I hated being sick 10 days out of every 21 days. Have been on Keytruda 2 years 2 months and did really well. But my times up for that as it also does number on organs, Nov 15th go back for test at Mayo to see if we’re out of options. Thank the Lord for this past year of good days. Prayers that you will have same outcome.