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NanaJoni · 04-29-2011, 10:35 AM

Lani - thanks so much for this info. I have a gut feeling that this may be a combination of the Herceptin and the radiation. The inflammation is right where I had the concentrated radiation in the area of my tumors in the right breast so the radiation component is likely. But I've had other problems with the Herceptin (gastro mostly) that have significantly improved in the two months since I last had a treatment. I saw my onc Wednesday and he has decided to stop all treatments - I only had 3 left so it's not a big deal. I'll see him every 4 months now and am getting my port out on 5/9. I'm not one to panic - but am very impatient with the continuing shortness of breath. I saw my primary care doc this morning and she feels the inflammation can be reduced with some low dose steroids and that the pulmonologist will probably start me on that when I see him on 5/18. I've printed out this info you posted and will be taking it with me when I see him. Thanks again for the info and the kindness you've shown.

04-29-2011, 10:35 AM	#4
NanaJoni Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Elizabethton, TN Posts: 418	Re: radiation pneumonitis Lani - thanks so much for this info. I have a gut feeling that this may be a combination of the Herceptin and the radiation. The inflammation is right where I had the concentrated radiation in the area of my tumors in the right breast so the radiation component is likely. But I've had other problems with the Herceptin (gastro mostly) that have significantly improved in the two months since I last had a treatment. I saw my onc Wednesday and he has decided to stop all treatments - I only had 3 left so it's not a big deal. I'll see him every 4 months now and am getting my port out on 5/9. I'm not one to panic - but am very impatient with the continuing shortness of breath. I saw my primary care doc this morning and she feels the inflammation can be reduced with some low dose steroids and that the pulmonologist will probably start me on that when I see him on 5/18. I've printed out this info you posted and will be taking it with me when I see him. Thanks again for the info and the kindness you've shown. __________________ Joni -64 yrs old - 3/01/10: found lump in rt.breast 3/12/10: mammogram/ultrasnd/biopsy-invasive bc & DCIS; 2 tumors (2cm er-/pr-/HER2-& 1.8 cm er-/pr-/HER2+); grade 3;poorly differentiated 3/24/10:sent.node biopsy clear 3/31/10:bi-lateral mx.;atypical ductal hyperplasia-lft side 4/21/10:wound revision-infection/scarring 4/28/10:seromas both sides 5/21/10:port installed,TCH chemo (6 x 3 wks); Herc,-1yr; 33 rad tx after chemo 07/2010: port not working-2nd port didnt'work;3rd port opposite side. 07/2010: 2 weeks after 3rd port surgery, threw 3 pulm. emboli-IVC filter installed; warfarin 08/2010: hospitalizations w/3 of chemos; decision to stop after 4th-on to radiation in Oct 2010;Herc cont. 12/03/2010 - finished 33 rads Hooray!! cont. Herc. every 3 wks 4/2011 - pneumonia ??? Nope-radiation pneumonitis. No more Herc. 5/2011 - NED!!! port out. 8/2011 - clean PET & CT scans.Still NED 7/2012 - Still NED/very blessed. 2/2013 - 6 mos checkup-all clear. CA2729 down frm 13 to 11.