Any advice?

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Kandy
Kandy Member Posts: 1,461
edited June 2014 in Stage III Breast Cancer

I have been reading your forums for a couple of days and finally decided to join in. I just celebrated my year anniversary for finding out that I had BC. I had a lumpectomy followed by chemo. I was allergic to Taxotere and Taxol so I had AC then followed gemcitabine and vinorelbine. Has anyone had a similar experience? Sometimes I feel like I am doomed because I did not get the normal drugs that are given. I had radiation to follow chemo and have started on arimidex. I have started having a very dry cough and pain beside my shoulder blade. Does anyone believe it is from the arimidex? I am in the medical field and have seen so many people with mets. It is very scary for me. Any advice would be appreciated.

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  • AzKim
    AzKim Member Posts: 124
    edited February 2010

    Hi Kandy,...first off,.welcome to the group,.sorry you're here though. I'm not familiar with arimidex,.but,.I'm sure someone will reply as soon as they can.

    ((hugs))

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  • everyminute
    everyminute Member Posts: 1,805
    edited February 2010

    I have heard of people developing a cough during/after radiation.

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  • helena67
    helena67 Member Posts: 357
    edited February 2010

    I am sorry for the stress you are going through. But this could be all kinds of things. Radiation pneumonitis perhaps? I remember doc saying that this could occur within about 6 months of radiation. You could have a regular pneumonia too (mycoplasma?)

    Hope you will find a benign explanation.

    Hugs,

    Helena.

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  • ruthbru
    ruthbru Member Posts: 57,235
    edited February 2010

    There is a whole Arimidex thread; check it out with the ladies there. It does sound more radiation related to me. Remember the two week rule; if it doesn't go away in two weeks, get it checked (and of course, if it is bad, do it sooner as it could be a 'regular' thing, like pneumonia, as helena67 suggested). Good luck!

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  • KerryMac
    KerryMac Member Posts: 3,529
    edited February 2010

    Yep, there is a thing you can develop in your lungs from radiation - the top part of your lung is in the radiation field, and it sort of gets zapped too. I am on Arimidex, and am not aware of this as a SE, but well could be.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2010

    Hi Kandy, sorry you''ve had the problems you've described and that you have to be here asking this question, but welcome, and I'm happy you've found this forum.  It's funny you mentioned pain near  your shoulder blade.  I've been experienceing the same thing. But not regularly.  Usually it seems more so when a wheather system is moving thru the area.  I finished rads in November, following AC and mastectomy earlier. I was given Benedryl infusions before my treatment infusions to prevent any allergic reaction.  But I don't have any known allergies. They began the Benedryl when I started with a few hive like marks in the arm where the A was being infused.  I also want to mention that I am on Arimidex and have noticed a lot more joint pain since starting it in November.

    image

    Barb

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  • JacquelineG
    JacquelineG Member Posts: 282
    edited February 2010

    Hi Kandy,

    I had a dry cough that developed about 2-3 months after radiation. I was concerned but my rads oncologist was pretty confident it was from rads. He said the radiation can affect the lining of the trachea temporarily (something about thinning out the lining that would usually trap particles, like the bronchi) and cause you to develop a cough. I'm happy to report my cough is now completely gone (i probably had it close to 6 months on and off). Try not to worry!

    jackie

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