Lung damage nearly 3 years after radiation finished?

I have some fibrosis from rads and as I understand it this will make me more suspectable to infections in that lung the rest of my life. The lung doesn't expand as freely as the other one which means mucus can accumulate easier. Just something for me to be aware of.

It was made pretty clear to me that I would have lung damage and heart damage from rads (and the collateral scatter). Can't figure out why your RO would deny it. It's kind of common sense, no? Makes him look a tad stupid, I think. Having said that, the damage to my lung was minimal, the heart, still under debate. I do find when I breathe that lung has always felt "raspy" and that was 20 years ago. I remember being really sick once and that lung actually hurt. I certainly notice that lung isn't up to par with the other, but then again, I'm a smoker too, but I think that kind of damage would be in both (or maybe that's just my way of rationalizing smoking).

If it weren't so serious, it'd be kinda funny. They all blame each other for all we endure and nobody takes any responsibility for the side effects. Must be exhausting having to bull-shit your way through everything. I always thank gawd that my family physician blames cancer treatment for EVERYTHING and picks up the slack (or the physical therapist in your case). Hope it gets figured out for you, Lily.

I can't do rads because of prior radiation, but I consulted with an RO, and he said there would definitely be heart and lung damage because they can't avoid hitting those areas. There is I guess an acceptable percentage of damage that has been deemed okay by the medical community

My RO NEVER wanted to blame anything on rads. Three months after finishing rads I end up in the hospital with Radiation Pneumonitis, Pneumonia, and a Pulmonary Embolism. I fired her... but quite honestly I despair of ever finding one that will tell me the TRUTH.

Good luck to you!!!

Both ROs I've spoken with have spelled out the possibility of both reduced lung function and radiation pneumonitis. I cannot imagine an RO denying the possibility of lung damage due to radiation. It is rally shameful that some do.

Actually, damage from rads can occur many years from treatment, in breast, lungs or heart. My RO was very clear on this. That's one of main reasons I return by-yearly to him. The other is that he gives the best breast exam of any doctor or nurse I've ever had. Another is that he is a character, like an older brother and grandfather rolled in one. We have long chatty appointments, if he can, and I run by all kinds of esoteric stuff by him. My other doctors now are in and out, bam!

I finished radiation on April 9, and about 5 weeks later started developing irritation, painful deep breathing and a dry cough. I was scheduled for a CT anyway, since I have some lung nodules they are keeping an eye on that are too small to biopsy. I was scheduled for a PET in August, but had it two weeks ago because my symptoms had gotten so much worse. I had reached the point where any exertion at all was causing really bad symptoms. Monday I saw a lung specialist, and Tuesday had a bronchoscopy under general anesthesia. I also have two swollen lymph nodes that showed quite a bit of uptake on the PET, so those were also biopsied on Tuesday. We do suspect lung mets, but the lung doctor said that I had a lot of lung damage and scarring from radiation. This is called radiation pneumonitis and is normally treated with prednisone. The lung doctor was going out of town next week which is why he did my procedure so quickly. He is sending a detailed report to the oncologist, and I will see the oncologist next week. I understand that this is common after radiation. It is when it goes untreated and worsens that it can turn into lung fibrosis. Also, I did throw a massive blood clot in my lung following surgery back in 2002, so I will need to find out what kind of risk factors I have there.

Lung infiltration, pneumonia, lung irritation - whatever - the diagnosis it is lung damage from radiation. I suffered pain with breathing 3 months after finishing radiation (7/2013) Last 3 doses were 'booster' treatments for area around nipple only. Position of my body was on my side with form for my body made to keep me in place. I was told there was a chance of pulmonary damage at my initial group visit with cancer team. (1-2013) In the scheme of things, radiation was necessary. In July my oncologist sent me to the ER for chest pains. Xray showed lung infiltration. A Pulmonary Dr saw me the next day at 6:30 a.m. and he had studied my records already. A series of treatments with Predisone - then back on predisone in September (right lung involved - no relation to radiation) and then again during 2014. Chest Xrays taken prior to each visit. Finally this past Feb he is satisfied with outcome. My radiologist was reluctant to admit what happened - but finally did in my visit of 2014. I am seeing her in again in 2015. I wonder why I am scheduled to see radiologist continuously. I see my oncologist every year which I understand as she prescribes the aramatase inhibitor drugs. I am trying my 3rd med (exemestane). Having terrible with muscle pain and bone ache. Fighting cancer is hard. One day at a time.

Every scan I've had since rads mentions "fibrotic changes consistent with radiation treatment".

Leah

((((Lily55)))) Hugs and hope that it self-corrects somewhat. The reason I say this is because I was diagnosed with something called "situational asthma" right after starting exemestane which I thought was the culprit. But, I had finished rads just two months prior and it was my left lung that was acting up and I had rads on my left side. I was given an inhaler for difficult breathing days which I am thankful were few and far between!

I was in a clinical trial and had 10 treatments of radiation in 5 days (2 x a day 6 hours apart) and it was at very high "gays" which is how they measure rads. I still cannot fully inflate when I am deep breathing but it has gotten somewhat better with time. RO does not think it is from rads although she did show me dosimetry report which clearly shows that a corner of my left lung would be in the field and could not be helped. I think she would like to not think it is from rads but I know it likely is. Am also having a bit of difficulty swallowing these days and think that too is from my rads. Sigh...

I had radiation in 2013, following a left mastectomy and chemo. They had gone slightly into the chest wall musculature to ensure clear margins, so it was going to difficult to irradiate the chest wall and not the underlying organs.

I had a bolus, an artificial tissue layer, placed on my chest to help focus the beams superficially, and also had to hold a deep breath in during treatment bursts, to lift the chest wall away from the heart.

I have little doubt that my lungs took some radiation, and a recent chest CT (lung clots) described some scarring in the lingula, the middle portion of the left lung, which might have been caused by radiation, although I have noticed chesty colds since adulthood, seem to feel like they mostly affect that area, so maybe I had scarring there before?

I'm doing pretty well now, and can climb several flights of stairs, although I do feel I get more breathless than I should if I try to run, or cycle uphill etc, and slightly wheezy.

My Rad Onc has claimed responsibility for "50%" of my lymphedema, the other 50% being from my lymph node clearance!, but nobody has flat out informed me I have radiation pneumonitis.

I was born premature and I have had lung issues my entire life as a result. (pneumonia and bronchitis and chronic coughing.)  However, moving from NY to FL 13 and 1/2 years ago was the best thing that I ever did because the warm tropical weather stopped my twice a year bouts of bronchitis and months long chronic coughing cycle.   I have only had bronchitis a few times since moving to FL.  I have never had asthma and inhalers have never worked for me.

That being said, I finished radiation to my left side in October 2014.  I held my breath during the radiation tx.  My RO used the Canadian study approach where I was given the same amount of radiation for less weeks with a higher dose each day. 

I felt fine until now.  I have been sick for 4 weeks.  Granted, I just went back to work and I work in a high school so I am exposed to many germs.  I also work in a very poor, rural area, where they burn sugar cane.  I am sure that there is also pesticide exposure.  I live very far away from where I work so I am not exposed the air pollution all of the time.

I have been working extremely long days and I have been sick.  I waited to go to my PCP because I felt that I had the flu or a bad cold.  I went to the doctor 1 week ago and he said that I had a sinus infection.  He gave me a Z-pack and a Dex-Pack (the same thing as Prednisone but a different brand).  I was still sick so I went back to my PCP 2 days ago.  The doctor told me that I now have bronchitis.  My left side is far worse then my right side and my doctor attributed that to my radiation tx.  I feel awful, I am totally exhausted, and my lungs hurt.  These are not my usual symptoms of the chronic bronchitis that I have had my whole life.  Usually, I cough continuously.  I am coughing but not that much. 

I think that I will have to go back to my PCP again next week to see about having a lung X-ray.  My lungs are painful and I feel so "out of it".  I continue to go to work because I have to, but I feel like I can barely function.  I have always coughed but I have never been so sick and felt this bad for this long.

After reading this thread, I am wondering if this is due to side effects from my radiation tx.  It does make sense.

Luckily, my RO is wonderful.

Good luck to everyone.

I can't believe an RO would deny lung or heart damage from rads. My RO was also very clear about both possibilities as well as lymphedema risk. Luckily my lungs seem to be ok so far