Shingles after Breast Cancer tx

MiaNC · Regular Joined: 20 Apr 2005 Posts: 30 Location: Georgia

Two years ago I was dx with Stage IIA breast ca, E+, P+, HER/neu neg, 1 cm, 2 sentinel nodes positive but no axillary nodes affected. Had bilateral mastectomies, ACT dose-dense and radiation after. A year later had reconstruction. It's been 2 yrs since the end of all treatments. Had avery itchy rash last Aug and a culture was positive for herpes zoster aka shingles. By the time the results came in the are was crusted so I did not take meds. Now, again I saw a red and itchy rash and the dermatologist did a biopsy but advised me to start Valtrex.
I am very concerned although noone else is. I am being told that this can happen even years after chemo. My fear is that I am still immunosuppressed. My white blood cell count is still low at 3.1 with neutrophils at 1.6.; my platelets are normal and I have mils anemia which responds to iron pills.
I would be very interested to find out if there are any similar experiences out there just to have some comg=fort. Every time something small happens I panic. But I am 50 and have two still small children...
Thank you from te bottom of my heart
MiaNC
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MiaNC

brainman

Hi MiaNC, I am so sorry about your cancer and now Shingles. I know that it is a relatively common occurrence with people taking chemotherapy. My father had it one time while he was on chemo for leukemia. However, I do not know how common it is for people to get Shingles a couple of years after chemo. I do know that some people with out any cancer or any sign of immune system problems do get Shingles. Nevertheless, I would advise you to continue to explore this with your medical team... especially since this is the second time for you to get them.

Best wishes.
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Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

Muttsmom

Hi,

I had shingles after chemo but during radiation. I just happened to see my rads onco for a check up the day that I noticed the rash. I was able to take a RX for it and it clearned up quickly.

I would try (try being the key word) not to worry too much as it takes time for our bodies to heal from everything it's been through. I know you're worried, and anyone that's been dx with cancer would be, but you're 2 years out and I know I quit worrying as much after about 2 1/2 - 3 years of dx. I still take changes seriously and if something happens before my next check up, I go see my PCP or if I feel I need to see my onco, I'll go see him. I'm sure your onco is doing labs everything you go in for a check up and that tells him/her about your counts and how your body is doing. If there were any abnormal reading, indicating a lower immune system, anemia etc. you would know. I hope you don't have to deal with it again and that the medicine will take care of it once and for all.
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Nancy
2/14/02 ILC 43 - 5.5 cm 9+/16 nodes
Stage IIIA er/pr+ Her2-
2/02 MRM
FECx6 radsx33
Tamoxifen - Arimidex (chemo induced menopause)
4/03 SM w/bilat. recon.
9/03 expanders removed
5/04 repair reconst. disaster
10/04 Actonel for bone/joint pain from Arimidex
NED - 5 years
3/07 Diabetes
In memory of Kim 12/1/04

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