Has anyone with asthma found it is worse during treatment? I was diagnosed with asthma in Jan 09 and bc in Oct 09, so my asthma had only just got under control by my bc diagnosis. I seem to buck the trend in that I don’t get wheezy and my peak flow doesn’t drop much. I just get a tight chest, breathless and a cough.
I finished Chemo in March, Rads in June and am now on Herceptin & Tamox. During Chemo I found it very hard to take my inhalers as my mouth was so bad that I couldn’t face the powder sticking to the sides, so, along with the chemo side affects my asthma was poor, being very breathless all the time.
However since then have been taking my asthma meds regularly, as prescribed and things were better.
Up until 6 weeks ago I had never had a really bad asthma attack, however in 6 weeks I have had 2 bads one, the first one an ambulance was called and I was taken to A & E. With the second one I followed the docs advice and, with a friend, managed it myself but it did take a good hour before I had stopped coughing and I was completely washed out for the rest of the day. Both times I have had an uncontrolable coughing fit.
At the moment I am on a 5 day course of steroids and double doses of my inhaler.
I know I was told when I had my rads that part of the lung can be damaged, but that it shouldn’t have any affect.
Just wondering if there is any connection with bc treatment or if it is unrelated.
Caroline
HI
I have asthma, I finished chemo in Feb. I found during chemo that I had bad asthma about a week after each Tax as it gave me a sore throat and that seemed to spark off the asthma. Otherwise like you whilst on chemo I was less wheezy and my peak flow was good, I think it might be the regular steroids.
I am finding being on herceptin is agrivating it again, I think it might be that it gives me a dry mouth with mild taste changes, I can’t eat spicy food (which I love). I think the dry mouth is bringing on the wheezing, I am going back to the lemon and ginger herbal teas with half a teaspoon of honey instead of ordinary tea, I was drinking this during chemo as I couldn’t stand the taste of tea. It seems to help keep my mouth less dry and hopefully less asthma.
Marian
xxx
Hi Ladies,
I too have asthma and have had problems during chemo and Herceptin. I have the Herceptin dry cough, then I sneeze and then my nose runs like mad. I have had to use inhalers more frequently over the past 18 months but have always managed to control the asthma. I finished Herceptin on the 9th July and am still hopefully waiting for the side effects to disappear. My Oncologist was going to discharge me last month but when I told him of the Herceptin side effects he asked me to report back in October to see if there is any improvement. Lots of people on this site have complained about wheezing and being short of breath after a very short walk.
It is known that chemo and Rads do affect the lining of the lungs so lets just hope we all improve as soon as possible.
E
Caroline
I work as a respiratory nurse specialist. Could you ask your GP to be referred to one of me in your area? We can offer you more tailored help for your problems. As I’m sure you are aware, attacks are not good but they may be avoidable.
Julia xx
always check with your asthma nurse.
Just want to say that my asthma,which I have had since I was 10,was better during chemo than it has ever been!!Mind you everything else was so rotten I am surprised I noticed 
Valx