A member asked:

I have cancer am i more likely to get a lung infection caused by candida?

5 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
Dr. Douglas Arenberg answered

Specializes in Pulmonary Critical Care

Probably not: True lung infections caused by candida are almost unheard of. People with severely suppressed bone marrow function can get systemic candida infections, but most such people are hospitalized in bone marrow or other organ transplant units or similarly immunosuppressed (but rarely cancer patients receiving outpatient chemo for example). "candida pneumonia" is almost unheard of.

Answered 1/5/2012

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Cancer itself: Does not pre-dispose to opportunistic infections like candida, but treatment can lower host defenses, include steroids, and these may increase risk. Awareness and early diagnosis is the key, not prophylactic treatment.

Answered 6/12/2014

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Related Questions

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How can you tell if you have Candida infection in your chest?

A doctor has provided 1 answer