Pleurisy from Radiation

tdonnelly · 12-24-2008, 06:45 PM

Her 2 Friends,
I recently had to go to the ER for ongoing chest pain. After tests/x-rays the Doctor said I was developing pleurisy in my lungs due to Radiation. Anyone else experience this? I finished Radiation last winter- 28 treatments. At that time I was told there was some damage to the right lung. I was never told I would experience future problems from Radiation.

Wishing all of you a Blessed Holiday Season.

Tamara

sarah · 12-25-2008, 02:11 AM

I remember after I finished chemo, surgery, radiation, I had a PetScan and they found fluid in my lungs - I'd been complaining of being short of breath. No one seemed terribly concerned and I wasn't given anything although I did start to take ibuprofen and doing deep yoga breathing - it cleared up on its own. I immediately thought heart problem because of the herceptin but my Muga was good.
Look up pleurisy and see what's suggested - probably rest but check.
hope it gets cleared up soon.
sarah

Joan M · 12-26-2008, 11:59 AM

Tamara,

Radiation can have long-term effects. This is not frequently disclosed to patients, and I think that the long-term effects are not so common that doctors feel they need to mention them.

From my understanding radiation pneumonitis is a common side effect, but I never heard of pleurisy from radation (but then there's a lot I haven't heard of) and it might not be from the radiation.

In either case, it's best to follow up with your doctor about treating it.

Joan

MJo · 12-26-2008, 12:02 PM

Two women in my support group developed radiation pneumonia, so it's not uncommon. Take good care of yourself and I'm sure you'll feel better soon.

Paty · 12-26-2008, 10:14 PM

Tamara,

After I finished my radiation treatment, I started coughing and being short of breath. My doctor thought I had pneumonia, but after some tests and x-rays, he told me I had developed lung fibrosis due to the radiation treatment. The damage was not as bad as it can get, but still now and after almost two years I feel short of breath and somewhat tired. The fibrosis has not grown since it was diagnosed, and most of the time I feel almost normal. I was given cortisone at the time and some treatments to help me with my breathing. The damage done to my lung is irreversible, but I have learned to live with it and by now I do not think about it very often. I know that soon you will feel fine and will be alright. Hope you get treatment soon so you can feel better.

Best wishes,

Paty

lizm100 · 12-28-2008, 07:12 PM

Tamara-
radiation can cause many strange symptoms and permanent damage. About 2 months after I finished radiation, I developed pain in my breast, chest and rib area along with shortness of breath. I was scared out of my mind to say the least. Had a regular CT scan and a CT scan to rule out pulmonary embolism(sp?) both fortunately both came back negative. I was diagnosed with costochondritis by my oncologist and pleurisy by my primary. The shortness of breath has improved greatly over time. 7 months later I still have various muscle tightness and I can feel knotts and tingles deep in my muscles at times on my radiated side. (I have had numberous scans to rule things out) We're all different and radiation affects all of us differently. Some women have no side effects and some have extreme side effects.