Bleomycin and scuba diving: to dive or not to dive?

Neth J Med. 2003 Feb;61(2):50-3.

Abstract

Bleomycin is to treat patients with testicular cancer and lymphoma. Bleomycin can bind to DNA and chelate iron. The resulting complex can form an intermediate capable of interacting with oxygen to produce reactive oxygen species, particularly superoxide. Administrating high-inspired oxygen concentrations (e.g. during anaesthesia or acute illness) has been reported to exacerbate pulmonary injury. The duration of risk after bleomycin chemotherapy is unknown. Here we discuss our advice to a young male patient, who was successfully treated with bleomycin for testicular cancer, concerning the safety to return to scuba diving. Since scuba divers are exposed to high partial oxygen pressures (depending on the depth of the dive) we discouraged this patient from resuming scuba diving.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / administration & dosage*
  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / adverse effects
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Bleomycin / administration & dosage*
  • Bleomycin / adverse effects
  • Bleomycin / therapeutic use
  • Carboplatin / therapeutic use
  • Choriocarcinoma / drug therapy
  • Choriocarcinoma / pathology*
  • Choriocarcinoma / surgery
  • Diving / adverse effects*
  • Etoposide / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Lung Diseases / chemically induced
  • Lung Diseases / prevention & control*
  • Male
  • Orchiectomy
  • Testicular Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Testicular Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Testicular Neoplasms / surgery

Substances

  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic
  • Bleomycin
  • Etoposide
  • Carboplatin

Supplementary concepts

  • JEB protocol