Eye problems during off therapy period

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Kidmanliang
Kidmanliang Member Posts: 91
edited June 2017 in Stage IV/Metastatic Breast Cancer ONLY

Hi everyone,

My cousin's latest PET-CT scan showed that there are multiple spots at bones at multiple places. It didn't show anything in brain or lung. Before the latest appointment, she was considered NED for about 3 years after her surgery for stage IIIA ER+/PR+, HER2- breast cancer.

Her doctor told her to stop Tamoxifen because it stopped working, also stop Zometa, and only continue Zoladex. Her last Zometa was 6 months ago, and her last Tamoxifen was 3 days ago. Therefore, she won't have anybody treatments before her biopsy result and new treatment plan are available.

She started having cough and vision problems 2 weeks ago. Not servious cough but just occasionally, and it seems to be getting slightly more frequently lately. She feels swelling eyes and double vision. She said sometimes everything was blurry but it's gone after she focus.

Did anyone have the same experience? Does anyone know what's going on? Is it possible that it spread to brain or lung but the PET-CT couldn't catch? Or it spread very fast after the last PET-CT scan like a week or two ago?

She will see the doctor again next Monday to review the biopsy result and treatment plans. Before that, can anyone suggest some diet for her since she's not on hormone therapy now.

Thanks a lot!

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  • Kidmanliang
    Kidmanliang Member Posts: 91
    edited May 2017

    anyone? Please help!

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  • Herculesmulligan
    Herculesmulligan Member Posts: 175
    edited May 2017

    I'm an eye doc so I'll address the eye symptoms. I wish I could be more helpful but I'm not sure what's going on here. An eye exam would help, preferably in a place with access to retina specialists and neuroophthalmology. The hormone blockers can affect vision is various ways, both transitory and permanent. Tamoxifen in particular can rarely deposit in the back of the eye and cause blur or distortion. The symptoms of blur and double vision which can be fused at will suggest the muscles that move the eye may be fatigued. Often that improves on its own and if not glasses with prism ground in cam help. But I'd get your cousin to see an eye doctor.

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  • Kidmanliang
    Kidmanliang Member Posts: 91
    edited May 2017

    Hi HerculesMulligan,

    Thank you so much for your suggestions! She said it would take a while to schedule an appointment with an eye doctor in her area, but I will encourage her to see one as soon as possible.

    She told me that she feels better when sitting down or lower her body. The symptoms are more severe when standing. Do you have any clue why that happens?

    Also, since the symptoms started when she stopped taking Tamoxifen, she started taking Tamoxifen again today, and felt better. I'm not sure if it's placebo effect. I'm not sure if it's a good idea to take it again after 3 days of no Tamoxifen.

    It would be great if she could talk to her MO, but she won't be able to until next Monday, which really pisses me off.


    Thanks!

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  • DaughterOfStageIV
    DaughterOfStageIV Member Posts: 49
    edited May 2017

    So sorry to hear about the eye issues. It can be quite stressful. My mom has had severely watery eyes that we believe has been due to a couple different chemos. Many can cause eye problems. It's wise to mention it to the onc and see ophthalmologist. Good luck.

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  • Kidmanliang
    Kidmanliang Member Posts: 91
    edited June 2017

    Thanks DaughterofstageIV. Her MO said it might be caused by the biopsy in her neck, which made damage to the nerve. I'm not sure if I believe the explanation. I kinda want her to do a MRI to make sure it's not in her brain....but she probably prefer not to know...We are so scared.

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