Childhood Cancer

Childhood Cancer Survivors

Chapter 13. Lungs

The living body is a machine which winds its own springs: the living image of perpetual motion.

Julien Offroy de la Mettrie

TREATMENT FOR CHILDHOOD CANCER can affect how well the lungs function, which can involve your comfort, ability to exercise, and overall quality of life. This chapter begins with a description of the lungs and how they work. It outlines the types of damage that can occur from treatment and how healthcare providers identify and treat late effects involving the lungs. Several survivors describe how their lungs have been affected by treatment and how they cope with these late effects.