Shortness of breath

Peggy Henry · New User Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Posts: 1

Hi everyone-

Need input. First chemo was rough with nausea. Doc made that better, but now I am so short of breath I can not get a breathe. Hospital says not heart or lung so must be chemo. Anyone had any experience with this. Thanks Peggy

Update- After chemo is said and done I believe it was reflux and was also causing a cough. I wound up with severe GI problems- ER diagnosised with Diviticulitis. After 2 rounds of antibiotic, and a trip to GI doc I wound up on Nexium and hydrosycamine(for GI spasms) and a non fiber diet for several weeks. I still can not tolerate lettuce.

Thanks, and may the Lord bless all of you! Peggy
_________________
Stage 3 5.5 cm right breast Age 50 no family hx
ER: 30%
PR: Neg
Ki-67 70%
Her pending- do not have yet
Chemo - Acy/cytoxin x 4
Taxol x 3- very painful
Completed chemo 12/28/05
Surgery 2/06 10x9x3.5 cm removed
no cancer cells left
2 lymph nodes rem. snb-neg
Radiation currently 3-06

Muttsmom · Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2005 10:14 pm Post subject: Re: Shortness of breath

Hi Peggy,
I'm not sure what kind of chemo you're taking. My info is at the bottom. I did have shortness of breat during chemo, but I also had times that my stomach would swell, almost like I was pregnant with twin elephants and past my due date......o.k. maybe not quite that bad, but you get the idea. I assumed it was either water retension or the bloating was causing pressure up high so I had trouble breathing. I don't think it started with me until about the 4th treatment, but of course we all react differently to chemo.
Are your ankles swollen? I had to be put on lasix twice, not for fluid around my heart and lungs, but fluid period. After a few days on that, my ankle swelling went down and the breathing was better. I was also taking xanax and Paxil. I can't remember if I was taking that before it started or not. I don't know anyone that goes through this that couldn't use an anti-depressant and something for anxiety. If your onco doesn't suggest it, ask him. There's no point of this being any harder then it has to when there are meds out there to help.
Something else I just thought about and no idea if it has anything to do with anything. Chemo put me into instant menopause, which might have contribuated to the stomach swelling, bloating etc.
Keep and touch and keep asking questions until you get an answer, not just what it's not, what it is.
Best wishes
Nancy
_________________
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

JodiLinn · Posted: Mon Nov 28, 2005 5:11 pm Post subject: Shortness of breath

Hello Peggy,

I am new to this site, and just read your post.

I had a rare but severe reaction to the taxol that caused me to go into respitory distress. Everyone thought it was over when treatment was over yet two weeks later after telling every one how bad it was and ending up in the ER they finally took me serious.

After all kinds of breathing tests and arterial blood gas tests, they finally decided that I was having a more prolonged reaction to the taxol.

I am now on two inhalers daily and have one for emergencies.

I hope you have found out info by now from your physician's, if not I would be happy to talk further.

Take care,

Jodi Very Happy

_________________
Jodi Linn, 44
Diagnosed in May of 2005
Not Menopausal, but am now
Invasive ductal carcinoma
ER-/PR-/Her2- (triple negative)
Stage IIIc
14 of 20 nodes pos
Lymphodema
Just finished dose dense AC/Taxol chemo
Starting radiation

Donna S · New User Joined: 07 Jun 2005 Posts: 6

Not sure this is the same thing, but 4-5months after radiation, I experienced shortness of breath when exercising, and I considered myself fairly active. I think it can be fluid retention, too, from the surgical trauma, or just some type of inflammation. ( that's what my radiologist thought) I experienced it again recently, and the doctors are scratching their heads. Heart tests and chest X-rays show nothing. Think about the chemo and surgery and what it can do to a body. I really think there needs to be more in the way of follow-up for survivors!

Donna
Age 44
Dx'd 10/03
1cm, er/pr pos. Stage 1
3 lumpectomies, 4 AC, rad

Kristen · Experienced user Joined: 01 Nov 2004 Posts: 60

Hi Peggy,
I am now two years out, but I remember having a similar problem when I got up in the night to go to the bathroom. I remember a very heavy chest feeling and sort of short of breath, Oddly enough they thought i may be dehidrate, and I guess I was because from that point on I made myself drink lots of water and that seemed to help.
Recently I started experiencing some sort of chest discomfort that started after I was lifting weights. It started out hurting every time I took a breath on my left side, now it seems to be a pressure or slight heavy feeling. The doctor thinks its some kind of inflamation caused by working out with too heavy weights. She called it something but I forgot what she called it.
Good luck,
Kristen
_________________
Dx 3/03
43 yrs old
Invasive Ductal
1/14 + nodes
lumpectomy 1.6 cm
3 sugeries for clean margin & nodes
A/C & Taxol Dose Dense with daily Nuprogen
38 Rads
ER+/PR+
Her-2/neu +++
Stage 2
Tamoxifen 19 months
Treatment Finished 12/30/03

rose8 · Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2007 5:56 pm Post subject: Re: Shortness of breath

hi im 51 have breast cancer and im on my 4th chemo i to get very breathless and im sure its the chemo as i was fine before i get sent for echocardiographs every now and then good luck to you, tell your doctor she may ease your worry by sending you to

Cindy · Senior User Joined: 01 Dec 2004 Posts: 167

If you are taking Taxotere, here are some of the symptoms/side effects:

easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness;

feeling light-headed, fainting;

fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms;

severe diarrhea;

skin changes or bruising where the IV was placed;

nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);

feeling short of breath, even with mild exertion;

swelling of your ankles or feet, weight gain;

a red, blistering, peeling skin rash; or

numbness, burning, pain, or tingly feeling.

Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur, such as:

feeling weak or tired;

white patches or sores inside your mouth or on your lips;

mild nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, or loss of appetite;

watery eyes;

changes in menstrual periods;

temporary hair loss; or

fingernail or toenail changes.
_________________
Where is the cure???
www.truefacesofbreastcancer.org
www.diepbreastreconstruction.org
www.bcsisters.org/forum
www.mybreastcancerstore.com

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