Autoimmune Disease Following Breast Cancer Treatment

sadie, i've had lupus for almost 18 years, many years before dx with bc in 06.  there is a factor in the blood called anti-cardiolipin -

i think that's the correct spelling.  actually there are 3 of them.  these factors can cause increased clotting or thick blood.  2 of mine are fine and 1 is moderately positive.  i take baby asp.

i do however have an aunt thru marriage that also has at least 1 positive anti-cardiolipin and she has been tested for lupus and other autoimmune diseases several times.  always negative. i think your best bet is to see a good rheumatologist.  if you can get to la there is a doctor there who is world renowned in lupus and fibromyalgia treatment and research.  dr. daniel wallace.  i was fortunate to have a consultation with him in 03 and he is wonderful.  i personally have wondered if my bc is a result of my screwed up immune system due to lupus.  i don't know the answer to that.  i am quite surprised that you will be off coumadin s/p pulmonary embolism.  i used to be a cardiovascular tech and the standard treatment was always at least 6 months with coumadin.

good luck and please keep us posted. maria

I've read some that they notice there might be a connection with BC and another AI, thyroid problems.  I was diagnosed with both last fall.  My BS used to be a thyroid specialist and was not at all surprised to hear I had both.  Interesting............... that AI's may be connected with Cancer.

nancy, the fatigue i had with lupus was so exteme i couldn't even describe it...unrelenting.  of course there were various other symptoms but even now i can tell when it's acting up because of the incredible fatigue which is not relieved at all by sleeping.

Wow!  You know that I also had severe endometriosis that resulted in several surgeries, hysterectomy and then removal of my remaining ovary, all years before I was dx with breast cancer, and now after treatment of bc, have been suffering with hives that occur once or twice a year, cover me from head to toe, do not react to any kind of medication and last for about 6 weeks each episode.  My dermatologist said I have chronic hives, which is also due to an AI disorder.  This really all makes sense and I have wondered for a couple of years if the endo and bc were some how connected.  I've read and known that endo is an AI disorder, and there seems to be more and more a connection between them all.  Huh.  

Oh...and I had blood clots after my first chemo (4 blood clots) and was on coumadin for over a year.  Off it now.  And...I had cellulitis (staph) after my breast surgery.

Auto immune response???

travelgal, interesting about the ANA.  just had labs run to check about autoimmune.  only thing positive was CRP.  have been dx'd with Seronegative RA.

Travelgal, I also had celluitis in the bc breast following my lumpectomy.  It was pretty painful.  What is ANA?  Is it something you can request testing from your med onc, or do you need to ask your primary for it?