Anyone here struggling with shortness of breath / breathing issues? I’ve been blaming it on my zometa infusion as it started a few days afterwards, but wondering if it’s actually letrozole which i had been taking for 6 weeks before the zometa. Had 2 MUGA heart scans (all good) and lung CT (slight scarring but ‘nothing to worry about’) so no explanation really. Been referred to respiratory team and have initial clinic appointment tomorrow but just trying to gather my thoughts!
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I have been on Letrozole for two and a half years and have never had breathing issues. But then I haven’t had the joint issues on Letrozole that lots of other women have had. The SE I had, which were vaginal dryness and brain fog, largely dissipated after around six months. It’s not really Letrozole per se that causes the problems but the eradication of oestrogen so it might be worth asking tomorrow how much oestrogen plays a part in lung function? Have never had zometa so couldn’t comment on that.
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Thanks tigress. Been on it six months now and thankfully no other side effects but will definitely query it tomorrow. So bad now that i’ve stopped going for a walk as it wasn’t enjoyable. Had plenty of side effects while undergoing chemo (6 trips to A&E and a 10 day inpatient stay) but they were mainly temp up to 40 and heart rate 140-150, but again nothing found.
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I’m very sorry to hear that. Walking is a good and controllable form of exercise so it’s a shame that it has become untenable for you. I do hope that you get some answers, if not tomorrow, then in the near future following appropriate tests.
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Hello there I’m so sorry to hear that you are having these problems and I hope you get some improvement in your symptoms soon. Just wondering if you had radiotherapy - I think it’s fairly rare but I’ve seen a couple of posts from people with asthma that has been exacerbated by radiotherapy. Also it’s possible to develop mature onset asthma - I was diagnosed with this at 50 but hopefully the respiratory team will be able to help you and I hope your appointment goes well. Xx
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Thanks Joanne, yes, a week of radiotherapy. i have had very mild asthma symptoms for several years and had an inhaler to use if needed, but this was changed to a combined one (including steroids) recently to try and help the breathing. It didn’t - and gave me oral thrush! Hoping the respiratory team can come up with some answers later.
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The first time I went on my steroid inhaler I also got oral thrush and I now have a spacer to use with it. I also gargle with and drink water after taking the inhaler. A few years ago I had a really persistent cough and the advice was to double the dose of the steroid inhaler which again resulted in oral thrush despite drinking water cleaning my teeth after use etc. - most unpleasant .
Fingers crossed for you for today .xx
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I have asthma and had radiotherapy on both sides. Since having Covid my asthma was hard to control and need more than the dose prescribed just to function without breathing problems.
The combined inhalers are in the process of being prescribed to all now as the long acting bronchilators and steroids have been found to work better at exacerbation/ attack than using Salbutamol/ventolin. I was always told to rinse my mouth after using the inhaler to stop thrush and hoarse throat, an ENT doctor said it should be salt water. It does help. I used to have a spacer like @JoanneN but my inhaler was changed due to reducing pollution from inhalers to a dry powder, which I had trouble with in the past. (Sore throats, hoarse voice and thrush, so far salt water has helped)
I hope you get some answers from the respiratory team.
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Good tip about the salt water in case they change mine. I’m usually stable on the steroid one - only need to use the Salbutamol when I’ve got a cold / cough or sometimes in Winter the cold seems to set me off. I mentioned the pollution aspect at my review last year but the Nurse didn’t seem to think it was an issue though I’m sure it will be at some point . I’m a bit worried about the idea of changing something that works really well xx
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Cheers naughty_boob, it does look like it’s the asthma (maybe increased issues because of cancer treatments leaving my immune system wrecked?). Spiro and other tests done this morning, and now on new inhaler (Fostair) with spacer. Lung CT and repeated spiro tests shortly. And a referral to thoracic medicine. Can’t say they are not looking after me, so very grateful to all my doctors and associated staff.
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Hi deidre784,
Sorry that you have been suffering with breathlessness and that you were wondering if it may be caused by Letrozole.
I’ve been on it for a year, and whilst I’ve always been ‘chesty’, even since childhood, my chest is definitely worse now. Last Autumn I had 2 bad chest infections and it was quite scary as I couldn’t breathe. My GP
hit it with nebulisers, steroids and antibiotics and said I should really be in hospital. It persisted and I’ve been on an asthma inhaler for a while and I’m so much better. GP said this is almost certainly adult asthma.
I had worries about mets to my lungs but thankfully a thorax CT scan was clear. I’m glad yours was too. I’m now pretty convinced that Letrozole has made my chest worse. I’m okay though and this blip certainly won’t stop me from taking it every day. There are side affects when taking Letrozole, unless you’re very lucky, but my own feelings about this are that it’s definitely worth pursuing the course. A recurrence of BC is a scary prospect.
Good luck
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Thanks Frances, hoping this new inhaler will help. Glad to hear your GP was on top of things for you.