AC-T and shortness of breath! Very worried...

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lemonadehk
lemonadehk Member Posts: 106
edited April 2015 in Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After

Hi ladies, seeking help! I am on dose-dense AC-T now. Had my second AC last Wed. Since then, I have experienced shortness of breadth and stuffiness in chest. I didn't experience it for my fist AC. I also happened to have a cold right before my second AC. Still coughing now. Not sure if the shortness of breath is due to the cardiotoxicity or due to the unrecovered cold. Has anyone experienced this while on AC-T or other regimen? Thanks a lot!

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  • Claire_in_Seattle
    Claire_in_Seattle Member Posts: 4,570
    edited April 2015

    I had the same thing happen when I was on AC. Just one of the symptoms, and I wouldn't worry about my heart. I thought more like my lungs were closing down. I would have ONE coughing fit and then be fine for the rest of the cycle.

    For me, this would happen only when I cycled. So I would stop and cough my brains out, and then be fine. I was cycling much more slowly than usual.  Anyway, my message here is not to worry. The cold most likely isn't helpng. The great news is that you are HALF WAY through AC at this point. 2 more and you are done!

    Hang in there and feel better. BTW - walking helps with this. - Claire

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  • Beachbum1023
    Beachbum1023 Member Posts: 1,417
    edited April 2015

    lemonadehk, I also had DD AC/T, finished 11/25. Did you have a baseline heart ECHO before AC started? What is the EF%? I have the shortness of breathe and a dry cough. Please mention it to the MO before the next AC. While heart damage is a uncommon side effect, it is for real and can be permanent. If you have any questions that I may be able to answer, feel free to PM me. Cheryl

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  • SelenaWolf
    SelenaWolf Member Posts: 1,724
    edited April 2015

    As beachbum said, heart damage is uncommon, but possible, so be sure and mention it to your MO at your next appointment.

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  • Nightnurse
    Nightnurse Member Posts: 86
    edited April 2015

    I had Adriamycin, cytoxan, taxol, and herceptin, which finished almost 3 years ago. I started shortness of breath and chronic cough. I have developed coronary artery disease (with blockages) and left bundle branch block, and first degree av block. If you look closely at the research, these are all things that can be caused by one or another of these chemo's. I have my heart cath tomorrow. All of these are named specifically as side effects of the above meds. Because I have multiple allergies , I didn't think anything about it. My cardiologist said this all was caused by the chemo. I am not saying that anyone with a cough has side effects or such, however, if you have had any of these chemo's , it would behoove you to check it out early so that you have the best chance of early treatment. I could just kick myself that I didn't think cardiac problem earlier. BTW, it was found incidentally on a CT of the Chest. All this time, I was treated for "silent gerd" and allergies.


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  • Nightnurse
    Nightnurse Member Posts: 86
    edited April 2015

    I forgot to add that mine chemo was dose dense also. I also am on Arimidex for 3 more years.

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  • Jenwith4kids
    Jenwith4kids Member Posts: 635
    edited April 2015

    I had DD AC then weekly taxol. I had shortness of breath after my second AC. No coughing. I called the doc, who ordered a lung CT to rule out anything major. It was negative. She chalked it up to anxiety and had me take ativan every six hours whether I need it or not.

    Definitely tell your doc, you can't be too careful. Though it is probably nothing.

    Halfway through AC, that is something to celebrate!

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  • lemonadehk
    lemonadehk Member Posts: 106
    edited April 2015

    Hi Claire, thank you for sharing your experience. Yes I am happy that I am half way through AC :)

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  • lemonadehk
    lemonadehk Member Posts: 106
    edited April 2015

    Hi Cheryl, I did have a baseline ECHO done. I think it's either 66% or 63%. I am seeing my MO tomorrow. Will definitely mention it to him. Now I think about it, it could also be related to my low RBC. It was a bit lower than the normal range last time.

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  • lemonadehk
    lemonadehk Member Posts: 106
    edited April 2015

    Thank you Selena. Will mention to MO tomorrow. Hope he will take it seriously...

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  • lemonadehk
    lemonadehk Member Posts: 106
    edited April 2015

    Nightnurse, I am so sorry that the chemo has done the heart damage. I hope the meds will make it better. I will definitely take it seriously and will insist another ECHO done.

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  • lemonadehk
    lemonadehk Member Posts: 106
    edited April 2015

    HI Jen, thank you for sharing your experience. Just wondering, why did you MO order a CT of the lung? Does AC-T also cause damage to the lung?

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  • ElaineTherese
    ElaineTherese Member Posts: 3,328
    edited April 2015

    lemonadehk,

    A CT of the lung would check for blood clots, or pulmonary embolisms. Shortness of breath is a symptom of blood clots, and some ladies who go through chemo get them.

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  • Trvler
    Trvler Member Posts: 3,159
    edited April 2015

    I don't have a cold but I have had a little shortness of breath on AC. I also notice if I am lying down in certain positions (mostly on the side) my heart skips beats. It happens a lot. I have #3 today and I am definitely going to discuss it with the MO. I will let you know what she says. I work out about 5 -6 days a week and I have wondered if that is good or bad for my heart given this stuff going on.

    One thing to note that I had a little of the shortness of breath before I started right after my port was put in. So I am not sure if what I am experiencing is due to the port or the AC. When I mentioned this to the doctors, they didn't really know what to do. They checked me for a blood clot and listened to my heart and lungs. I guess there wasn't much else they could do. They tried to say it had nothing to do with the port but I know it did. It was just too close to the port to not be related somehow.

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  • Jenwith4kids
    Jenwith4kids Member Posts: 635
    edited April 2015

    Don't discount anxiety.... this is a crazy awful time for us and sometimes that is how anxiety manifests.

    Be kind to yourself!


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  • Trvler
    Trvler Member Posts: 3,159
    edited April 2015

    I brought this up with my MO and she suggested more fluids. I will try it.

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  • lemonadehk
    lemonadehk Member Posts: 106
    edited April 2015

    Hi Trvler, congrats on finishing AC#3. Hope you will have minimal SEs. I will see my MO today. Will let you know what he says.

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  • lemonadehk
    lemonadehk Member Posts: 106
    edited April 2015

    Hi Trvler, just came back from MO. He said my fatigue and shortness of breath is due to anemia. Will get blood transfusion tomorrow. He said I will feel much better afterwards. How is your RBC?

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  • Trvler
    Trvler Member Posts: 3,159
    edited April 2015

    No one mentioned it to me but I will check.

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  • Claire_in_Seattle
    Claire_in_Seattle Member Posts: 4,570
    edited April 2015

    Glad nothing out of the norm and a relatively simple solution! For the record, my blood counts came back up during Taxol to the low normal range. I was able to chart this, and it is a good measure of my overall energy level. What you said is interesting in terms of the exercise I did. I always felt better after a walk and of course, that was because I got more oxygen in my system, even when anemic.

    But so glad all is relatively OK. The worst will be over in about a month. Hang in there and feel better.  - Claire

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  • Trvler
    Trvler Member Posts: 3,159
    edited April 2015

    RBC was in the lower end of normal range.

    Lemonade: Let us know how you feel after the transfusion.

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  • lemonadehk
    lemonadehk Member Posts: 106
    edited April 2015

    Hi Trvler, had blood transfusion (red cells only) yesterday. Feeling better today. Not as energized as I thought would be though :)

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  • Trvler
    Trvler Member Posts: 3,159
    edited April 2015

    I am glad you are feeing a bit better.

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