Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy treatment affecting my lungs.

[23september]

I was diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast cancer in 2018. I had Chemo, lumpectomy and radiotherapy. My lungs have been damaged a lot after my cancer treatment. I started experiencing shortness of breath a month after radiotherapy and it got worse over a few months. Now I am diagnosed with Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis and Bronchiolitis. On 1st January I have started using oxygen for 2 hours daily. The illness is progressing. I had very aggressive chemo too. Carboplatin and Taxol which are known to cause scarring too. Cancer treatment has definitely contributed to my lung issues.

[sassy59]

Hi 23september, sorry to hear about your severe lung problems caused by your breast cancer treatment. I do hope you are being well supported by a good medical team and family and friends. Do stay in touch and take care. Xxx

[peege]

I'm so sorry to hear about your experiences 23september, so tough for you to go through all the aggressive chemo only to end up with lung damage. Unfair. Thinking of you, P

[23september in reply to peege]

Thank you for your support. I had 16 sessions of aggressive chem and among the four different types of chemo I had Carboplatin and Taxol which ch are known to cause scarring in the lungs and the radiotherapy therapy as well caused mo re damage. In all my letters did ctenoid especially refer it as possibly from radiotherapy. I started experiencing shortness of breath within a month after I finish the adiotherapy in May 2019 and it worsened rapidly over the months. I was diagnosed with ILD in May 2020 after a bad bout of chest infection and it was around the time when we had the first wave of Covid. It was not easy to get an appointment and be seen by a GP. It was after I called 111 that the surgery reacted. I was sent for an X-ray followed by a CT Scan. It was then that I got a diagnosis of Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis and bronchiolitis and twenty months later I am on oxygen therapy. I just cannot believe and accept the sudden deterioration of my lungs. I get very depressed with the fact that I do not know how I have got to live. I am being referred to the Royal Brompton hospital as I just could not tolerate Prednisolone and now they will try a different treatment. Got an appointment for mid April now. Now I have no to deal with lymphedema too as all my lymph nodes were removed due to Triple Negative Breast cancer. This one is a late side. Just fed up with endless appointments. Thank you again for your support.

[peege in reply to 23september]

I really feel for you September, I'm wondering if you would call the British Lung Foundation helpline, it's 03000 030555 & operates UK office hour 9-5 Mon to Fri. They may be able to offer some guidance on any other help/support you can get. They are qualified and experienced, not ony respiratory but also counselling (Benefits too although you may not not need that). Do give them a ring, nothing to loose and I know that you could use some expert support. There is information on ILD they could send you at the very least. Still thinking of you. You could also use the search bar above (scroll down on a phone I think) put in ILD, some thing useful might come up.

Don't stop posting will you. Best wishes, Peege 💐

PS to the right there's a section called 'Related Posts ' which may be of interest to you ××

[Shortlungs]

Hi I also had breast cancer had a lumpectomy 10 years ago followed by radiotherapy bee n told I have mild damage from radiotherapy also copd don’t kno which one is causing breathing problems but my breathing problems started a couple of months after radiotherapy

[23september in reply to Shortlungs]

Hi Shortlungs It might be wise to ask for a CT Scan. I started experiencing shortness of breath soon after radiotherapy too. Is your shortness of breath getting worse? I would advise you to request for a CT Scan to put your money be at rest, Take care

[Shortlungs in reply to 23september]

Had 2 CT scans which showed slight damage from radiotherapy also emphysema shouldn’t be getting symptoms

[23september in reply to Shortlungs]

Hi Is your shortness of breath getting worse? My shortness of breath started soon after I finished radiotherapy and over the months it started worsening fairly quickly. Within a year I was diagnosed with CHP and the progression of the disease has been very rapid. Shocked no really. Maybe you should request for a CT Scan. Have a new ce Sunday

[Shortlungs in reply to 23september]

My shortness of breath seems to have stayed the same it came on so suddenly after my radiotherapy but I was a smoker then

[CDPO16]

It's so difficult when treating one disease causes another. Hope being on the forum will help you.

[Patk1]

Welcome to our forum.so sorry to hear of yr problems x

[23september in reply to Patk1]

It does especially when you hear others who have been affected by treatment. Feel worse than when I was having treatment for cancer. I had loads of chemo and they were very aggressive. 16 sessions altogether and radiotherapy as well did not help.

[Patk1 in reply to 23september]

I really feel4u.yr having a tough time.This is a lovely forum with great support.i hope r appoinntment at Brompton helps u.xx

[hsoni30]

Hi 23septemberHow is your health, writing you after long time , have you tried enzymes from my post about hypersensitive pneumonities that i stopped progression with improved pulmonary function test.

[23september in reply to hsoni30]

Hi Hsoni30 I do not really know what enzymes you are talking about. Apparently from what I understand your health has improved a bit with whatever you are trying. I am on oxygen therapy already. So far I am managing a bit better now. I have been on oxygen on1st January. Using it two hours daily. A lot of changes like body cream, cooking with gas etc. My health has deteriorated very rapidly. I was diagnosed with ILD in May 2020 and 20 months later I am on oxygen. I have list quite a bit of weight too as I always feel full. Hope to hear from you about the enzymes you mentioned.

[hsoni30 in reply to 23september]

Hi 23september

We had some conversation before 1.5 year. I fully recovered and stopped further progression of lung scarring. I have posted details in my post you can check in my profile. healthunlocked.com/blf/post....

Hope it will help you.

[23september in reply to 23september]

Hi Hsoni 30

I will start on the list of things mainly enzymes you sent me. I can get Serrapeptase from Holland and Barrett. Hopefully I should get Bromelain from there too. I am already taking daily. I will have to increase the dosage by 3,000 only. I have a big glass of Kefir everyday and kefir yogurt too every now and then. Will try to get a Dyson purifier too. A bit expensive though. I have a lot of cooked spinach in my diet. In salad too with beetroot leaves which is good for the lungs too apparently. Can I mix some other ingredients to the spinach when making smoothies like fruits and even beetroot with a hint of ginger maybe. I do the nostril breathing which is prayanam too with Adrienne. How about the Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide? Is it five puffs in the mouth twice a day and why six months? I do not think I can manage 20 minute walk in one go. Will try and can I do it in two goes if I cannot manage the 20 minute in one go. My only concern now is how will I know that my lung is improving now that I am on oxygen. I do not think you are on oxygen like me. I suppose I will get the result from the Lung function test and I just had another test a year later. Do you request for 6 monthly Lung function test? Is you Thoracic consultant aware of the treatment you are following? I have been referred to the Royal Brompton hospital now and seeing a doctor in April to try a different treatment I suppose as I decided against steroids which gave all sorts of side effects like cramps, blurry vision and I could not sleep at all while on it. I was on 20 mags for 28 days then 10 msg until I told the doctor that I did not want to carry on with it because of the terrible side effects. I will let you know soon about the treatment they are planning to give me. Will have to check my letter. I am just wondering how long I have got to live now that I am on oxygen. I am prepared to give anything a go now if I can prolong my life a bit. I have read about the benefits of serrapeptase and it dies help with inflammation and

Scarring which is what we need really. Hope I get good and comforting results like you in

the near future. Thank you so

much for sharing all this with

us. Wish you all the best healthwise.

1000 in vitamin D daVita

[23september in reply to 23september]

Sorry I meant NHS for the prednisolone. There is a bit of typing missing. I am already taking 1,000 in Vitamin D for osteoporosis. I will increase it by 3,000. Thank you so much for sharing this with us.

[23september in reply to 23september]

I meant mgs not NHS😃😀😃

[Caspiana]

Hello there.

I had a friend who went through chemotherapy due to leukemia. She had a bone marrow transplant and her lungs did deteriorate afterwards. They never were able to give her a diagnosis because she was unable to undergo a biopsy. I think chemotherapy can definitely cause lung disease especially if chemo and radiation are both used causing inflammation to the lungs. I'm sorry to hear your plight, and I hope treatment can slow the progression of your lung disease. It's so tough sometimes. One treatment go ease one illness often causes other issues. 😞

Take care of yourself.

Cas 🍀

[23september]

I meant I am already taking vitamin D for osteoporosis 1000 I.u. I will take an extra 3000 from your recommendation.