Asthma anyone?

caya · 06-14-2012, 05:01 PM

Really baffled on this one.

While in hot humid Florida about a month ago, I noticed I would be a little short of breath after mild exertion - climbing stairs, talking a long walk. Thought it must be due to my avoir du pois, compliments of Femara.

Upon returning home to Toronto, to much cooler weather, the shortness of breath continued - not terrible, but def. there. So I went to my GP who sent me for a pulmonary exam (breathing tests) - she just called me to tell me I have asthma - quite definitive on the test results. I am really stunned - I don't recall being short of breath while on Herceptin, and I finished my Herceptin infusions exactly 4 years ago. So it's puffers for me, I will see her in a couple of weeks for further assessment, she may want to send me to a specialist.

Has anyone else developed asthma after chemo/Herceptin? Between the fibromyalgia, osteoporosis and now asthma, man, BC is just the gift that keeps on giving... Believe me, I'm thankful that I'm going on 6 years out, but this is getting to be a bit much.

all the best
caya

LoisLane · 06-14-2012, 07:40 PM

Hi Caya Have you had asthma in the past, even exercise induced asthma. Do you think it has anything to do with allergies etc as everything is in full bloom and so lush this year. I just had my physical last week and when my doctor asked me if I have any shortness of breath I realized that at times I do feel short of breath for no apparent reason. What did you doctor say about developing the asthma? Did she think it had to do with any of the meds or Herceptin. I had a funny day today as well. Had to go to the dermatologist and I have to have a biopsy on my nose next week, could have a basal cell carcinoma, she isn't sure but needs to scrap some off and check it out. Great just what I need a little hole in my nose! Take care hope you get this under control soon

NEDenise · 06-14-2012, 09:09 PM

Caya,
I developed asthma as an adult too. It was long before I ever had BC though. They never did tell me definitively what caused it, but they did suggest that I may always have had it...and it just got bad enough to become troublesome in my 30s.

I use xopenex anytime I feel my airways getting tight, and Simbacort daily in winter, when the cold air and multiple colds complicate things for me.

Compared to BC...no big deal for me. But I agree! I'd like to catch a break one of these days too! Enough is enough!

Hope you're breathing freely again soon!
Denise

caya · 06-14-2012, 09:25 PM

Lois,I've never had asthma in my life. I have had allergies, but ragweed in August, not Spring allergies.
I had a terrible bout of bronchial infection this past winter - 2 months of wheezing, coughing - 4 antibiotics. My GP sent me for a chest Xray just to be sure that's all it was - must have been the asthma.

She said the asthma could have been there for awhile, and just come out recently. We did not have a big involved discussion about the cause of it, as she had just received the test results and called me because I had been quite worried when I saw her two days before. She had prescribed an Advair puffer for me in the winter, and again about 6 weeks ago because I felt a bit short of breath before I went to Florida in mid May. She did say it has been a terrible allergy season here in the Toronto area because we had such a warm March/April, everything in full bloom and lush, as you said. She told me to use the puffer 2x/day - once in the morning, once in the late afternoon. I also have a Ventalin puffer to use if I get really bad, and that hot humid weather is worse for asthma. That's why I felt short of breath in Florida, when we were there in May it was very humid.

I did bring up chemo and Herceptin as possible causes, who knows? She knows that Herceptin can cause heart damage, she did an EKG on me immediately in her office (it was fine). Also sent me for an echo, at the same clinic where I had the pulmonary test- no results yet on the echo. I will speak to my onc. about the asthma- I have an appointment with him next month, but I may call the office tomorrow to see him earlier. I am pretty upset about this. I think late side effects for Herceptin are still being discovered, because it has only been the past 5 or 6 years that Herceptin has been given to early stagers.
I'm thinking my onc. may know more about this than my GP.

Lois I hope all goes well with your biopsy. Please let us know.

Denise, thanks for letting me know about getting asthma as an adult.

all the best
caya

snolan · 06-15-2012, 06:57 AM

I developed exercise induced asthma as an adult but after chemo and surgeries it seems to have worsened for me. I haven't gotten it checked, plan on doing that now that all my Dr appt are reducing.

caya · 06-28-2012, 03:16 AM

Bumping up to see if any more asthma sufferers chime in.

all the best
caya