Hi I have recently finished all active treatment. Diagnosed June 2023 Lobular, chemo finished Jan 2024, Masectomy Feb2024, 15 sessions of radiotherapy completed 30/4. Obviously it’s been a hard slog but my problem now is breathlessness. I was able to run all through chemo doing 28min park runs and now I’m really struggling with 34 min. They did a CXR which they said was fine and mentioned residual lung damage. My question is will this improve over time?
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Hi, I think it’s quite usual to have some lung problems afterwards. I had breathing difficulties for 4 months afterward and got a chest infection which lasted several weeks due to the weakness. Now I can breath without pain- not perfect but getting better. I do deep breathing exercises daily and I found this helps. Hope your symptoms improve soon. All the best.
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Hi @Shots
Chemotherapy can be cardiotoxic and if radiotherapy was on the left can also cause heart and lung problems with both sides.
You could call your team and ask their advise. I find the breast care nurse with the surgery team the most helpful. Or BCN on 0808 800 6000 but they won’t be available until Monday after 9am.
I’m on Herceptin as well and have a heart MUGA scan and my heart function has reduced but still within normal but I get breathless walking up hills. Well done running while on chemo, I managed to walk everyday (well almost) but I assume you were already a runner and didn’t just take it up for chemo!
Let us know how you get on. It’s definitely worth a call to get it checked or have you mind put to rest 
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Thanks, I have very brisk conversations with the oncologists and before I know it they are off the phone! BCN’s just say whatever they’ve said so none of it is really helpful. End up just keeping fingers crossed and waiting for next surprise phone call!
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Radiotherapy can cause lung problems , j think it’s scarring , fibrosis? I’ve been seeing a physio who has been showing me how to breathe properly post radio .
In sure the BCN will help on Monday but please take it easy . Your body has been through a lot . I was fit before my op , I only had 5 sessions of radio ( finished ) weeks ago , no chemo ) and I get tired . Be kind to yourself xx
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Dear Shots,
Well done for getting this far with your treatment. All the different treatment take a toll on us, it’s certainly not a walk in the park, take good care of yourself one day at a time at the moment.
Was wondering if it would be a good idea to give the breast cancer nurses on this site a call, they are so kind and understanding. I think this would be a great help to you.
Wishing you well going forward.
Hugs Tili 
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Hi Shots
Thanks for posting.
We often hear from people who have completed their active treatment and who are struggling to do the things they were able to do previously. It’s good to read you’re able to do park runs in 34 mins. But it’s understandable you’re concerned that you are now struggling to do them in less time.
As others have suggested, breathlessness can be an ongoing side effect from radiotherapy or chemotherapy. For many people this will improve, as it has for @naughty_boob. But it isn’t possible for us to say whether this will be the case in your situation. You say the conversations you have had with you breast care nurse and oncologist haven’t been particularly helpful. But I wonder if you could call your breast care nurse again, and as @klf has mentioned, ask if a referral to physiotherapy might be helpful. Our information about physical activity after chemotherapy and radiotherapy may be of interest to you and includes some links to other organisations. You may also be interested in some of our videos and podcasts about physical activity and breast cancer.
Adapting to life after treatment can be difficult and often the need for information and support continues. Coping with the shock of a diagnosis, treatment and side effects, and worries about recurrence can make it difficult to readjust to everyday life again.
Our Moving Forward resources that are for people who have had a diagnosis of primary breast cancer and have come to the end of their main hospital treatment within the last 2 years. They include our Moving Forward booklet and Moving Forward courses.
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Best wishes
Val
Breast Care Nurse
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