Increased Problem with Asthma After Rads?

annetteCHI

MarieK, I have recently developed a cough, and subsequent pain on the radiated side when breathing deeply/coughing/sneezing. at first I went to my g.p., and he prescribed an antibiotic (w/o actually a diagnostic to know what is the cause!). after one week, as the pain got worse, I decided to go back to my rad onc. she thinks it is possibly rad pneumonitis, and she has prescribed prednisone (also w/o a clear test to diagnose this first). so guess I'll be on two meds and hopefully one will clear it up.

I know my rad onc originally (July 09) told me to come to her post-treatment for anything going on in the chest/rib/shoulder area BEFORE seeing my g.p. however, I really just thought I had a virus or something similar and so went to the g.p. 

makes me confused about who to see when...

noticed you are in Vancouver. one of my favourite places! best wishes on your healing ~

Annette

3monstmama

I had to deal with a round of asthma last spring.  Basically, during the high point of my allergy season, I got bronchitis/bad cold which went into my chest and then I had to deal with a lot of stress [my mother got diagnoised with heart failure] and it was the stress that turned the other into asthma. I did a breathing treatment of steroids in the doctors office and used an inhaller [albuterol] for a week or two and everything went back to normal.  I haven't used the inhaller since last June, not even when I spent a week in Beijing, one of the most polluted places ever and wasn't even in airconditioning.

We are all dealing with tons of stress right now. Stress does godawful things to your body.  I worked with a guy who developed building sickness when our work situation got incrediably stressful.  He had hives and asthma and all manner of crap.  It was so bad he couldn't come  into our office building for almost a year and had to work from hom.  I think we all tend to underestimate what stress can do to our bodies.  I think the very best thing we can do is make sure that we destress ourselves as much as possible and take care of ourselves.

For me that means I work 1 hour less each day, I am trying to get some exercise [walking at least from my rad appointment and during lunch], cooking [it relaxes me], meditating,  whatever it takes.  I am hoping that will be enough to keep me from any problems but at least I will know I have done all I can to impact the situation.

best to all.

Spokanellie

I'm bumping this because I wonder how I can be proactive to prevent worsening of asthma symptoms as I go into rads. I'm currently on Advair, Combivent and albuterol (prn), so I'd hate to see the asthma worsen. I have a gut feeling that bringing it up at my first RO appointment will get poo-poo'd - but that's not fair. I guess I need to give him a chance. I just wonder if it would pay to talk to my pulmonologist and get his opinion, or might that backfire politically with the RO. Suggestions?

Jazzygirl

Hello:

I am new to this site and had a double lumpectomy about 2 1/2 weeks ago. I am now preparing for radiation treatment, and it has been suggested I have internal radiation (brachytherapy with catheters) because of both breasts needing to receive the radiation treatment. Less issue to surrounding tissues and nearby organs, but slightly higher chance of reoccurrence with this approach. I am exploring this option, but will have to go out of state for this treatment for a few weeks as it is not offered in my city.

I am also going to get a consult for the more traditional external beam radiation, including the more targeted radiation which many of you are probably receiving. One of my biggest concerns about the external beam treatment is with my lungs. I do have asthma, although it is  well controlled, but am concerned about this damaging my lungs. I have been told external beam radiation can impact your lungs up 15% each side, that would be 30% total for my situation. I can see from a number of you that you have experienced problems with radiation and your asthma, or developed other respiritory problems. For those of you that have asthma, you know we are at risk for bronchitis or pneumonia with our respiratory condition. I have had both those in the past too. 

Working to get a consult here in town this week on from a rad onc about the external approach for my case. I see many of you were told before or during your treatment that there is no connection between rad and our asthma, but the 30% increase of reduced lung capacity worries me. Any input on your type of treatment, short and long term experiences with your asthma around rad treatment of any type is appreciated!

Mezzo75

Hello, I hope everyone is doing well--don;'t know if this thread is alive...

I was looking on the forum for info on asthma and radiation therapy. I have full-blown asthma after radiation. I know correlation is not causation, but it did begin after radiation. Rad oncologist says it's not related, but I'm doubtful. Has anyone come across info on radiation and asthma?

thank you

Spokanellie

Mezzo - Replying here instead of privately in case it helps anyone else. Both my pulmonologist and my radiation oncologist insist my worsening asthma isn't related to the radiation. I'll never know. What I DO know is that my activity level has decreased in part because of the asthma and in part because I hurt from the Femara. The best treatment for both is INCREASED activity, not decreased. I know that, so it's just a matter of getting my brain to tell my lungs, hips and legs to get moving. I'm using oxygen now whenever I 'exert' myself, i.e., a stroll with my small dog. That helps me get out there, but true exercise - not yet. All this has caused weight gain, which worsens both the asthma and the joint pain.  Talk about a vicious circle! Most of this is up to me to improve. 

proudtospin

gee, I am 5+ years out from my diagnosis and treatment but, my asthma flared badly around the time I started rads and now all these years later, my asthma is much worse than in the past and my allergies, you do no want to hear about them

not sure what sort of doc to bring all this up to...guess my start is the ENT and pulmanologist as the RO ended long time ago