Central Sleep Apnea and lung cancer - 1259357

gramme
Posts:8

24 months survivor of NSCLC, Stage III B, EML4-ALK positive adenocarcinoma, loculated pleural effusion since surgery 2012. Bones, Brain, abdomen, pelvis CT Scans negative, lung CT Scans stable since 2012. Diagnosed with Central Sleep Apnea. Not overweight, never smoked, and exercise (walk).
Is there a correlation between Central Sleep Apnea and ALK? If there a connection of Central Sleep Apnea to lung cancer? Could I have triggered Central Sleep Apena because of my habit of holding my breath to deal with pain?

Forums

chebird
Posts: 104

Just an anecdote: my husband's sleep apnea disappeared after his stage 3 Pancoast was treated with chem/rads. He's a fit, skinny guy. Then it came back when he was on decadron. Now he's off of that, and no apnea.

Blessings,

Holly

Dr West
Posts: 4735

Yes -- that would suggest that the cancer can cause apnea, which I'd believe is plausible (though probably uncommon); I don't think it's as plausible to envision that sleep apnea causes cancer.

-Dr. West