Radiation Damage

Hi Ladies (and Gentlemen): Well, I FINALLY got back the results of the CAT scan I had done on my chest and the blood work....great news....all clear and tumor markers at 25. Still NED 2 years out from initial surgery. My question though is WHY does my lung still hurt and I feel like I have asthma. My Onc. thinks it may be radiation damage because of a slight shadow on CAT scan that has been there for the last 6 months. Have any of you experienced anything like this? Frankly, he and I are stumped as to why I'm having these symptoms. We are taking the wait and see approach. He says if I don't feel better in two weeks he wants to see me again. Do any of you have any thoughts about this? Take Care, Linda

Linda,
If the dr thinks its from radiation have you taken any steroids for it? I know he told me that fibrosis from radiation is a concern. He says that is treated with steroids. But this far out i would think the fibrosis would already be formed. There are alot of different meds that take care asthma inflammation. I would think they would help with this too. Ask him about an advair inhaler and singulair. The advair would help open the lungs and the singulair is for inflammation of the lungs. It is a pill.

Great news, Linda!! I know how relieved you must be. I also have a cloudy area on one lung which is from radiation in 2001, but have never experienced symptoms from it. Hope you can find an answer.
Love, Jackie

Linda,
Ican understand how you feel. In 1999,I was Dxed with enlarged nodes under the chest wall that pressed against my cardio-pulmonary arteries, partially blocking my airways I also felt a lump in my chest after swallowing food. I had plural effusion (water) in my left lung. After taking herceptin all water was gone and the nodes had shrunk. Since I am prone to get mild ehiccups more than before when I swallow large bites of certain foods. I assume the necrotic(dead) tissue have not gone away 100% leaving behind scar tissue damaged by the cancer. The only radiation I had to that area was the radiation after lumpectomy in 1990 after my lumpectomy. Herceptin worked Miraculously on my nodes, and also radiation played a big part in my survival from brain metastases. Radiation is a great Onc. tool when used properly.
Hope I helped to give more from my own experiences. Hugs, Christine
So happy tohear good news. Keep it comin....