chest pressure-need some advice!

Renairis · August 2007

Hi
I've had 7 rounds of chemo including taxol avistin and carboplatin once every three weeks. I have triple neg. IDC bc that metasticized to the lungs and chest wall. I had a partially sucessful pleuradasis intervention in feb.2007 prior to this series of chemo. I was first dx 2004 (IDC triple neg. 1 cm. clear lymph nodes) and received CAF and radiation.The ca was dx again in Jan. 2007
For a month and a half I have been suffering pressure in my chest that gets stronger . It doesn't hurt or feel like chest pains.These are not signs of a heart attack and my blood pressure is normal. My EKG is fine and I just got the results from my CT that the tumors disappeared (yeah) after these 7 treatments and my markers are in the normal range.
One onc. said that cortisones may have affected my stomach and another onc. thought it's my heart or muscular pain.
I feel the doctors aren't taking my complaints seriously.
Friends suggested possibly chest lymphedemia or port infection- although my port is clear and there is no sign of blockage or redness.
I was just hospitalized for a fever and they believe my low blood count caused this, but the blood count rose and the fever is gone.
I really could use some help if any of you have experienced a type of pressure ,it's like an inflated balloon that keeps getting bigger and causing pressure.Kind of scared.....
Rena

Lisa40 · August 2007

Rena, have you requested an MRI? I get a heavy feeling in my chest when I'm feeling anxiety or stress. Sometimes I feel normal and don't feel stress etc. just the heavy feeling. However, since I know the heavy feeling and have ruled out everything else I can tell when it is related to anxiety. Hope you find an answer to your problem very soon. Good luck. Lisa

Renairis · August 2007

Hi Lisa
I will ask for an MRI because I have been misdiagnosed in the past and am paying a dear price.That doesn't guarantee I'll get it!
My nephew who'se a radiologist suggested it may be an anxiety reaction, and I'll be very happy to know that that is the case.
When my bc began to spread and I told the doctors I wasn't feeling well , instead of giving me extensive tests they said is was because of radiation, and other possibilities. Instead of the doctors playing it safe- I am "paying" a price. That's why I want to make sure it's not physical and rule out cancer or side effects of chemo or other possiblities first.
Thanks so much for replying,
Rena

tos · August 2007

Rena I too have chest pressure usually from stress or anxiety but it is very serious, have you considered seeking a second opinion?
Does the pressure come and go, there all the time or alot of the time. Is there something going on when you feel the pressure come to your chest area?
I also am treated for Angina, that is a possibility. Although I usually feel it in my neck first and then down into my chest.
When I get my chemo treatments it triggers chest pressure and/or angina.
Boy we go thru so many things with this darn chemo, I hope you can get some straight answers. You don't need more to worry about, best of luck to you,

Indigoblue · August 2007

Renairis, sweet child,,,

Might allergies and stress, along with the knowing fact that chemo-induced high blood pressure be the cause of your discomfort? A question I ask myself, as my b/p goes from high to low, and the stress in my life becomes extreme while answers are not in place because nobody knows the side effects induced by the treatment plans inclusion of chemotherapy.

Taxol, a/c, radiation all induce high blood pressure.
Stress. Motto: I don't know, bring in the chest pressure.
Coffee, tea, and soda; caffeine...diet, medical history, and truly, treatments we take with unknown side effects may be the source of that crushing feeling.

My stomach has been an issue since surgery 12/05. What you describe is profoundly similar.

Advocate...find a doctor, cardiologist, pulmatory specialist, or a family physician who is knowledgeable regarding heart, lung, breat cancer, and most certainly one who genuinely cares about YOU.

Be well, be loved, and life is beautiful.

Hugs

Indi

Hoghedge · August 2007

Bonjour Renairis,
My chest pains turned out to be Asthma - had never suffered with it before (am 72)- this was after my first bc in 2000.
Had second bc in 2006, mastectomy, chaemo, radioth - low Immune system results in me picking up infections - have had bronchitis which gave me very uncomfortable "tightness" ax chest - and now have nasty cough which cannot shake off - chest pain with this too but nothing showed up on a recent x ray.
bon chance avec le votre .........

PineHouse · August 2007

Rena,
Last year when I was on Avastin+Taxol I got some chest pain. I've had chest pain due to stress before, and this was different. It seemed to be deep inside. When it happened I thought it could be heart attack, except that it wasn't "sharp" and it's not going to the back/arm/etc.

Mine usually coincided with the week that I got Avastin (some week the Taxol was given alone), lasting 30min-4hrs when it happened. The onc swore up & down it couldn't have been side effect of Avastin. She did say it was possible it's the tumor (in lung/pleura) shrinking.

I dismissed it as that. The pain was less as months went by, so I wasn't worried.

If yours is continuously getting worse, the onc really need to address this. Aside from some possibilities that some of the ladies have mentioned, you could be getting some reaction from chemo too.

Renairis · August 2007

I want to thnak all of you for your input. it's interesting to note that there are different explanations for this chest pressure, especially lots of comments re stress.It doesn't feel likes stress but it's new to me do I don't no. my regular phyisician tends to agree with one of the oncs. that the stomach (Upper) was affected by the chemo. The cells in the stomach get destroyed like cancer cells because they are quick dividing.This causes ulcer type phenomena even though I don't have burning.
I Am now taking pills called Losac- something for ulcer problems.i had been taked some milder pill during the chemp called znatex but these may be brand names.

The great news....all the tumors to the lungs and liquids have disappeared after 7 treatments of carbo avastin and taxol. Yeah!!1 Now I'll be receiving axastin on its own as a continuation of the trial. I have to keep my fingers crossed, watch my diet and walk. in other words keep healthier habits!This is a time to appreciate the wonders of medicine!
I'll be happy to receive any more info re chest pressure because it seems oddly rare.
Rena

Indigoblue · August 2007

Renairis,

So wonderful to hear you are feeling better. The comments regarding the stomach lining make a lot of sense to me, since I've had a spasm and achey pressure there since surgery 12/05; got worse during A/C and the antinausea junk was worthless. Couldn't keep anything down, and worried lots that I ripped something or had an ulcer. Had all these heart tests, as I too, figured it had to be heart, since I already had high b/p and murmer, high cholesterol, and family history. Then Taxol, the triple dose of decadron (alleric to Taxols), but the decadron made the pain cease; still continued to have spells of nausea and heaving, but it lessoned as time went by. Now, the rads, taxol, a/c, have all taken a toll on my health; guess that's why we are referred to as "survivors" after those wretched (no pun intended, lol) wretching, treatment.

Thanks for getting back to us with the info; I drink malox, kaopecktate, and peptobismol, depending on which intestinal upset is malfunctioning...never normal.

Pinehouse, good to hear you've done well on the Avastin, as well. You and Ranairis have given me a renewed sense of hope and trust which was fading as I haven't been feel too well these days either.

Keep us informed, love to all.
Be well, be loved, it's a beautiful rainy day!

((hugs))

Indi

chest pressure-need some advice!

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