When chemotherapy lung injury, a type of lung damage caused by cancer drugs that inflames or scars lung tissue. Also known as pulmonary toxicity, it doesn’t happen to everyone, but when it does, it can be serious—and often missed until it’s advanced. This isn’t just a side effect you can ignore. Some chemo drugs, like bleomycin, busulfan, and methotrexate, are known to attack lung cells over time, leading to scarring, shortness of breath, or a dry cough that won’t go away.
People undergoing treatment for breast cancer, lymphoma, or lung cancer are at higher risk, especially if they’ve had radiation to the chest or are older. The damage builds slowly, so symptoms might show up weeks or even months after treatment ends. You might notice you’re getting winded walking up stairs, or you’re coughing more than usual—not from a cold, but because your lungs are struggling. If you’re on chemo and feel this way, don’t wait. Tell your oncologist. Early detection can stop it from getting worse.
It’s not just about the drug itself. Smoking, pre-existing lung disease, or getting multiple chemo drugs at once can make things worse. Some patients are more sensitive than others, and there’s no sure way to predict who will be affected. That’s why monitoring matters. Doctors may order chest X-rays, CT scans, or breathing tests during and after treatment to catch problems early. If lung injury is found, stopping the drug often helps, and sometimes steroids are used to calm the inflammation.
What you won’t find in most patient brochures? Real stories of people who thought their cough was just from stress, or that their fatigue was normal after chemo—until it wasn’t. The posts below cover exactly that: what to watch for, how it’s diagnosed, what treatments help, and how to protect your lungs when you’re already fighting cancer. You’ll also find info on how other cancer drugs can affect your lungs, what natural support might help (and what won’t), and how to talk to your care team without sounding alarmist. This isn’t theoretical. These are the details that make a difference when your breathing is on the line.
Some common medications can silently scar your lungs, causing drug-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Learn which drugs are most dangerous, how to spot early signs, and what to do before it's too late.