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A member asked:
Can radiation therapy for lung cancer also treat a pneumocystis infection?
15 doctors weighed in across 4 answers
No: Pneumocystis is an infectious organism. It can only be treated with specific antibiotics. On the other hand, radiation can weaken the immune system and cause pneumocystis pneumonia.
Answered 3/11/2019
6.3k views
Unlikely: Pneumocytis infections usually require high-doses of antibiotics such as Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim) (sometimes steroids too) -radiation is unlikely to treat pneumocystis or any infection.
Answered 10/4/2016
6.2k views
No: Radiation treats the cancer not the infection.
Answered 2/12/2012
6.1k views
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