DIABETES IS COMPLICATED BY BREAST CANCER

kiwikan

DIABETES IS COMPLICATED BY BREAST CANCER

kiwikan

I haven't been able to find much information about the additional side effects and/or complications for those of us struggling with Diabetes.  When I ask questions, I'm told there isn't any particular concern.  Personally, I think it's that little attention has been given to the matter.  Having diabetes complicates everything!  Why would one think there wouldn't be a complication with breast cancer.  I look forward to hearing from you.  Ruth

chemo072

Hi - I don't have diabetes, but my coworker does, and when I was taking steroids with chemo she pointed out the effect of steroids on blood glucose levels - it sends them sky high.  The steroids were used more with taxol to prevent allergic reactions to the cremaphor - the substance that carriers the taxol.  However, I think that the chemo drug abraxane is a taxane without the cremaphor and might be able to be used instead of taxol, with fewer steroids.

Of course diabetes will impact cancer care.  Any chronic condition does.  In my case, fibromyalgia presented some unique challenges, such as needing a lot more pain mgmt, and time to heal in between procedures.  Plus the leading fibro. program in the country has a surgery protocol, and I was able to give that to my surgeons, and it helped.

Another issue that comes to mind off the top of my head is neuropathy - isn't that a problem in diabetes in any case?  And it's a big problem with taxanes in chemo.

Also, perhaps wound healing?  Not sure.

There has to be info. out there, and this may be an issue where you have to educate your doctors. 

Best wishes with it all.   

myrenewal

Hi Ruth - I have type II diabetes and had to cope with chemo and radiation.  It did make keeping my blood sugar under control challenging, as the steroids do increase blood sugar.  However, because of this issue I only had steroids in my I.V. - I believe most patients have additional oral steroids for several days.  (But I also had my steroids reduced further after a couple of infusions, as they made me jumpy - my husband compared it to having an additional teenage boy in the house!).  So the steroids would have been lowered for me whether or not I had blood sugar issues.

I did have to change one of my medications (Metformin) as my stomach could not tolerate it on chemo.  Again, not really a big deal.  In fact, my A1C six months after chemo was finished was better than it had ever been!  (Must have been the 27 pound weight loss combined with the new medications.)

AmyaM mentioned in the previous post that steroids may be increased with Taxol due to allergic reactions.  I did have an allergic reaction (itching all over) with Taxol, so my oncologist's nurses began mixing it prior to my infusion instead of ordering it "ready-made".  Perhaps that is the issue with cremaphor?  My oncologist did mention that many oncologists believe the preservative in the pre-mixed Taxol causes the issues.  It did seem to help in my case and I did not need additional steroids - in fact I did not even have the benedryl that is usually also added to the I.V.

I hope this gives you some insight, and has not thoroughly confused you!  I am happy to try to answer any questions you may have.  You do not state whether you are Type I or Type II.  Because appetite can definitely be affected, I imagine Type I would be even more of a challege.

Just watch your numbers carefully, make sure your endocrinologist knows what is going on, and you should be fine.  Good luck with your treatment.

2up

your diabetes should be monitored by an endocrinologist in conjunction with your oncologists plan of action .......... yes the diabetic treatment may be altered throughout your cancer treatment, but no, the cancer treatments should not provide you with permanent diabetic complications.

............ like any "major trauma" to the body, your diabetic regime may be altered during cancer treatment ......... just like a surgery or flu etc ........ but as a diabetic i'm sure you're already well aware of this info.

............ most cancer chemo treatments require steroid use, this will undoughtedly alter and raise your glucometer readings .......... a change in scale insulin as well as frequent adjustments to diet and basic insulin (or oral anti hypogycemics) is to be expected .......... but temporary, the long term effects of cancer treatment are far from likely to alter your diabetic regimen once the steroids have left your system.

a responsible onc will engage a good endocrinologist to assist you in your short term deviation from your diabetic 'norm' ............. 

SheilaB330

Hi,

I have Diabetes 2 although on my lab report it is listed as hyperglycemia. Anyway, I had stopped taking my Metformin - stomach upsets. My surgeon said to get on it immediately because of healing after surgery. So I did and have been good. Blood sugar checks prior to breast surgery very low and same the next month when got my chemo port. My endocrinologist has ordered all my test be done and she will be seeing me a couple of weeks after my radiation is concluded.



Now, off to take my Metformin.

chef127

Hi,

I have had type 2 diabetes for for over 20 years. I was treated for a non BC condition 10 years ago with solumedrol, a high dose IV steroid for 3 days and then prednison for 10 days to wean off. I was never warned of the complications to my diabetes. I ended up with a severe UTI that caused a burning to the area that I had to grit my teeth everytime i passed urine. I used a spray bottle of ice cold water every time I peed. I'll never use steroids again, but with chemo I gurss you have no choice.

A year ago I completed my rads, went to my pcp the same day for blood work. BG was 360 on a fast and A1C was over 8. WTF. I researched and discovered that radiation tx can elevate BG. My RO knew I was diabetic but never mentioned the possibility. His nurses also had no idea and denied the rads cuased this.???????????????

Yes, DIABETES IS COMPLICATED BY BREAST CANCER....and BREAST CANCER IS COMPLICATED BY DIABETES. just MHO.......xox

Anonymous

I have a history of Type II, adult onset diabetes in my family, and was just borderline before beginning my 5 years on Arimidex - my A1C went up to 6.

Now, after completing Arimidex, my fasting blood glucose has gone down by about 25 points.  Don't know how much chemotherapy had to do with the change, as I wasn't testing my blood then.  Didn't have radiation. So this is just in case you will be or are taking an aromotase inhibitor.  Also for those who see their blood sugar going up while taking an aromotase inhibitor. 

Also - I started taking Niacin to reduce the cholesteral, which Arimidex also effected badly, and that also helped to raise my fasting blood sugar.   It has the same effect on some people as the statins do - raise blood glucose levels.