Question: How to minimize radiation-induced pneumonitis/fibrosis effects of Prenison and radiation inflamation to improve healing??? (3 detailed sub-questions at end of the Background)

Background. Age 58, male, 160 lbs (normally 185-90). Had Hodgkins lymphoma 11 years ago, ended up being successfully treated through perfect match). Currenty lung function is roughly 35% (I think) --- enough to get me through most days, unless I get sick and see (and feel) my O2 saturation drop. I've really been hit hard by Prednisone, and I keep trying to workout (bike, weights) but struggle to get muscle rebuilt.

15 months ago I was successfully treated for recurrent Hodkins (had 1st 11 years ago), using 3 months of chemo followed by 3 weeks of targeted radiation at the tumor near my kidney & stomach. In July/0000 (six months after radiation ended in Feb/11), I became short of breath and ultimately ended up in ER After mistakenly pursuing "pneumonia" treatment (antibiotics) with no luck, an open lung biopsy was done which indicated radiion aveolar damage/fibrosis. I was put on 40mg Prednisone for 1st week and then tapered; and 24x7 supplemental oxygen. A month later I was off oxygen support, and have just enough lung function for short disance walking, etc. Prednisone had tapered down to 7.5mg and I was started in mid-Nov/2011 on 500mg x 2 Mycophenolate with the goal of getting off of prednisone sooner. It was chosen for that plus the least impact to my kidneys, which are technically stage3). (Prednisone, for me, caused 15lb+ weight loss, muscle atrophy, and inability to get weight/muscle back until Pred is much lower -- e.g. it shriveled me up and zapped strength). But 2 weeks after Mycophenate started --- I got bronchitis, cellulitis/leg, eyelid bacterial infection, tongue thrush and bad Flu during (all in Dec/11). SOB came back and I was on O2 all Dec/11 with Prednisone set back up to 20mg on a 4-week 2.5mg taper I also had an Upper Endoscope done end-Dec, and they 'stopped' going as XXXXXXX as usual cuz they were running into inflammation (bottom of 'food pipe' I thnk). So that told me that Radiation not only inflamed lungs but also upper stomach - almost 1-foot away from the tumor lower down. (I also have worsened GERD, and was changed last few weeks from 20mg to 40mg x2, which has helped)

I've also taken NAC (acetyl ciestene) 600mg x3, with doctors support (goal is increase glutathione). Plus daily Viagra which I got prescribed for lung artery vasodilation. I can notice improved SOB on the viagra. A week ago, with advent of liposomal GSH (glutathione), I take 500mg daily and have noticed body and some lung improvement

My detail questions on my radiation-induced lungs are:
1) Is there any change or more options I could do to help lung (& digestive) healing, such as nebulized GSH, etc.? (A number of very recent technical articles published in latter/2011 refer to Glutathione, SOD's, etc. to aide in lung recovery.
2) Are you aware of any new or soon to be released treatments to reduce lung fibrosis?
3) Ways to remove radiation from body? (A year past radiation, I get concerned on my Upper Endo when they say its still going on). I've seen radiation-detox approaches outlined, such as Bentonite clay baths, etc. and even some XXXXXXX supplements that claim to remove radiation. Or are these all not really removing Radiation but instead other detox materials from liver, etc. Do footbaths in clay oer detox materials work just as well --- if "at all"?

Would GSH be at least, more, or less effective than Vit E for fibrosis improvement? And with the GSH (and E, OR E?)) taken alongside them. Can you point to a few key web URLs' of recent successful trials or usage of Pentoxifylline & Vit E? I'm using liposomal oral GSH, should I also be using (oral) GSH in nebulizer, etc>? At roughly what dosage/frequency of GSH oral? And if the nebuliized format, is that simply GSH liquid?

And is Viagra + lipGSH (which prior to lipGSH recent availabilityk was NAC (acetyl cisetene) similar enough to Pentoxifyline + E? With premise that lipGSH is a more 'motherlode' and master antioxidant that E.

The goal of Cellcept is to be the maintenance drug, and eliminate or greatly reduce Prednisone after about 1 year (six more months). I understand both Cellcept and Prednisone are to stop autoimmune conditions - e.g. the case of my lung having it attack aveolar again due to remaining radiation inflammation, etc. However, I'm questioning how auto-immune mitigating they are, as my pre-existing feet peripheral neuropathy PAIN has increased a bit with all the recent treatments and XXXXXXX inflammation. HOWEVER, when I was on Chemo a year+ ago for 3 months the PN pain went-away during XXXXXXX periods on the Chemo cycles. Which I had understood, deductively, indicated my PN nerve pain is autoimmune driven. Would not Pred and/or Cellcept reduce my PN pain, or am I confusing this with other things?

Lastly, is there anything more I should/can be doing to try to improve lung function - lipSOD, etc,.??? I am exercising daily (treadmill, weights), eating 5-6 lighter meals, etc.`

Thanks again in advance for your follow-up answers!

Your response was very helpful! Your responses are as if we were face-face, and very professional. I have a last few questions ...

1. It looks like studies on Pentoxifyline (PTX)+ Vit/E to regress RIF go back several years (10+ in some cases). Why then did PTX + Vit/E not get beyond 'experimental status'?

2. I understand the 'type' of Vit/E tocopherol used is d-alpha-tocopherol? (Natural (not synthetic)?

3. My regional pulmonary suggested (as experimental) Viagra + NAC 600mg x3 to halt (but not regress it) fibrosis progression and with the viagra as vasodilator to improve blood flow to lungs. Do you have insights and/or awareness of that approach?

4. Is Viagra a viable alternative to Trental in experimentally trying to regress lung fibrosis? (I do see Trental on my Health Insurance approved list, while Viagra is not)

5. For the Lipsomal superoxide dismutase, is an OTC version (pharmaceutical grade) used or is there a prescription version needed?

6. On Perfenidone, I understand its 'approved' in Japan and some Europe countries, and that U.S FDA initially did not approve it recently. Do you have insight into why FDA did not approve Pirfenidone for lung fibrosis reversal, and/or do U.S. patients obtain it via going to a Country doctor where its approved?

7. LAST QUESTION - AND This one is optional since it wasn't directly part of original 'minimize / reduce fibrosis' question.... I have constant painful Peripheral Neuropathy of feet from Hodgkins 12 years ago (had a abone marrow transplant; but vancristine burned my foot nerves). I understood that the PN pain was triggered by Autoimmune conditions. When Hodgkins recurred 1.5 years ago, during Chemo XXXXXXX periods, my PN pain 'WENT AWAY'. Now, with my Lung damage state, the PN is worse. I understood that the main reason I'm on Prednisone and Mycophenolate (now, and long term after Pred done) is to mitigate Autoimmune re-flareup of radiation induced fibrosis of my lungs. My question: "If Mycophenolate mitigates autoimmune state, is there any obvious reason why it has not helped my foot PN?