tests for shortness of breath

[davebliz]

I’m 7 years into my PC journey. Have ADT, done Zytiga, radium 223, Docataxel. Finished 8 sessions of Cabazitaxel 4 weeks ago. I have edema. I have developed shortness of breath frequently. They have tested for heart problems and done blood tests. But no one can say what is causing the shortness. Both my GP and oncologist say “progress of the cancer” and say there are no other tests to determine why the shortness. Note I have lots of bone tumours but a recent bone scan shows they are stable. By the way, I’m in Canada. Anyone have suggestions for more tests or a site that I can ask these questions? Thanks.

[MJCA]

Hi Dave,

Sorry to hear of all you your issues. Given all that you have endured, maybe you have developed some anxiety. It’s not uncommon, we DO go through A LOT. It’s nothing to be ashamed of, but it could answer that issue. No, I am not calling you crazy. This disease takes and takes and takes. I have been seeing a therapist for 6 years. It really helps! I wish you the best of luck.

Mark

[davebliz in reply to MJCA]

Thanks. I don’t think it’s anxiety but I can’t say for sure.

[Tall_Allen]

I have no idea if this will help you, but FWIW, once during Covid when I was laying in bed too much, I developed shortness of breath. I bought an "incentive spirometer" on Amazon (below) and increased my aerobic exercise. It helped a lot.

amazon.com/Incentive-Breath...

[davebliz in reply to Tall_Allen]

Thanks

[Ollie366]

I have shortness of breath as well and my blood tests showed low hemoglobin (and other blood components) and the docs say it's due to the ADT. My iron levels are fine. They probably checked your hemoglobin levels but I thought I'd mention it just in case.

[mygland in reply to Ollie366]

I too have dyspnea. Many cardio pulmonary tests attempting to diagnose. Mine is almost debilitating with slightest exertion. Oncologist doesn't think Pca is fully responsible for this level I experience.

Had a icpet at Yale, and they think I have dysautonomia from a virus or long covid.

[Rbtflr]

I do not know about Cabazitaxel, but Docetaxel caused me to have shortness of breath, and by the 9th treatment, I was waking up all night gasping for air. I went to a pulmonologist and found out my lung capacity had greatly diminished because of some kind of inflation. They put me on a heavy steroidal inhaler and other stuff, and he told me I had to stop the chemo if I wanted to keep breathing, so I stopped at 9 treatments. Took a while on the inhalers, but my lungs eventually cleared up.Best of luck.

[Kayakbob]

Have you had a complete iron panel done? My CBC showed slightly low hemoglobin and hematocrit, but the iron panel showed extremely low ferritin level. MedOnc ordered iron infusion, had it 10 days ago, now much improved. Worth a shot (pun intended!)

[Professorgary]

I was originally taking Xgeva every 4 weeks and after the third injection I was really short of breath. I went off of it for 6 months and restarted it last August every 12 weeks and no problems.

[RoseDoc]

Lots of things to consider here. The edema can cause SOB as there may also be edema of your lungs. Some cardiac issues may cause SOB as well as anemia, some of the drugs you are on. I would see your primary, perhaps start a short course of a diuretic. You may ask for a cardiac referral if that doesn't work, there are stress tests that can show if this is due to cardiac disease.

If the work up is negative, then I would work on aerobics and increasing your exercise threshold over time.

[j-o-h-n]

So I had shortness of breath till my doctor and his two strong assistants pulled and pulled and finally lengthened my neck.

All Kidding aside.... they ran several tests and determined that I'm getting fucking old. Doctors think they're comedians nowadays....

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n