chemo/rheumatoid arthritis

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mjjporter
mjjporter Member Posts: 15
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Has anyone been told that chemo may do enough damage to cause rheumatoid arthritis. I have some swelling in the thumb to middle finger on my right hand side which is the breast ca and lymphnoid removable side with some pain in both hands and now have to see a rheumotoid dr for further testing. Now from what I have read this is a 50 50 chance some like symptoms.

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  • krkath
    krkath Member Posts: 72
    #2
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    Hey MJ,
    How long has it been since you stopped your treatments? I'm at 9 months and am 51 but feel like I'm 71. I'd be interested to hear from the other ladies what they have to say. I'm hoping after a year my leg pain will go away. My tingling and weakness in my hands and feet are bearable. I do know one of the B/C Support Liasons at my hospital said they are finding out certain chemo drugs can damage the thyroid causing fatigue. So, today (my 3 month Oncology visit) I get my bloodwork back. I'll ask him if he has heard that chemo could cause rheumatoid arthritis. It makes sense to me that it could.
    My left hand is a lot harder to use since that's the one they did the Sentinal Node Biopsy before I ended up having the Masectomy. Hang in there. Let us know, OK? ((HUGS))
    Kathy
  • 24242
    24242 Member Posts: 1,398
    #3
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    It is now known that there is a certain number of population who are very sensative to everything. I am 9 year survivor who had to come to terms with much fall out after all my treatments. At first, during treatment phase doctors didn't want to talk about side effects. They were more intent on keeping treatments going that was my best chance at survival. Then after it took almost 4 years for the medical community to unravel all that the side effects had done to me. I had read all literature on the drugs I would be taking in chemo. All came with chances of side effects down to 1% and believe you me I hit them all.
    I tell people I started with one disease cancer and now have to live with many. But that is the key, I thought about survival and wanted to do what ever there was even if it only gave me a tiny percentage on the survival rate. I wondered if I would ever have Quality back in my life and with hard work all round I finally have. I just keep reminding myself what I was doing wasn't working hence the breast cancer and willing to try anything.
    9 years out of surviving stage 3 with 11 out of 21 positive nodes I know how fortunate I truly am and gratitude has taken me away.
    Be good to yourself always,
    Tara
  • LesleyH
    LesleyH Member Posts: 370
    #4
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    24242 said:

    It is now known that there is a certain number of population who are very sensative to everything. I am 9 year survivor who had to come to terms with much fall out after all my treatments. At first, during treatment phase doctors didn't want to talk about side effects. They were more intent on keeping treatments going that was my best chance at survival. Then after it took almost 4 years for the medical community to unravel all that the side effects had done to me. I had read all literature on the drugs I would be taking in chemo. All came with chances of side effects down to 1% and believe you me I hit them all.
    I tell people I started with one disease cancer and now have to live with many. But that is the key, I thought about survival and wanted to do what ever there was even if it only gave me a tiny percentage on the survival rate. I wondered if I would ever have Quality back in my life and with hard work all round I finally have. I just keep reminding myself what I was doing wasn't working hence the breast cancer and willing to try anything.
    9 years out of surviving stage 3 with 11 out of 21 positive nodes I know how fortunate I truly am and gratitude has taken me away.
    Be good to yourself always,
    Tara

    Tara,

    I so admire your courage and fight. What changes have you made to your life that you feel have helped you survive? I need any advice.

    Lesley
  • mjjporter
    mjjporter Member Posts: 15
    #5
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    24242 said:

    It is now known that there is a certain number of population who are very sensative to everything. I am 9 year survivor who had to come to terms with much fall out after all my treatments. At first, during treatment phase doctors didn't want to talk about side effects. They were more intent on keeping treatments going that was my best chance at survival. Then after it took almost 4 years for the medical community to unravel all that the side effects had done to me. I had read all literature on the drugs I would be taking in chemo. All came with chances of side effects down to 1% and believe you me I hit them all.
    I tell people I started with one disease cancer and now have to live with many. But that is the key, I thought about survival and wanted to do what ever there was even if it only gave me a tiny percentage on the survival rate. I wondered if I would ever have Quality back in my life and with hard work all round I finally have. I just keep reminding myself what I was doing wasn't working hence the breast cancer and willing to try anything.
    9 years out of surviving stage 3 with 11 out of 21 positive nodes I know how fortunate I truly am and gratitude has taken me away.
    Be good to yourself always,
    Tara

    tara
    congrats you are a survior I hope to recover as best I can and you are an inspriation
  • mjjporter
    mjjporter Member Posts: 15
    #6
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    krkath said:

    Hey MJ,
    How long has it been since you stopped your treatments? I'm at 9 months and am 51 but feel like I'm 71. I'd be interested to hear from the other ladies what they have to say. I'm hoping after a year my leg pain will go away. My tingling and weakness in my hands and feet are bearable. I do know one of the B/C Support Liasons at my hospital said they are finding out certain chemo drugs can damage the thyroid causing fatigue. So, today (my 3 month Oncology visit) I get my bloodwork back. I'll ask him if he has heard that chemo could cause rheumatoid arthritis. It makes sense to me that it could.
    My left hand is a lot harder to use since that's the one they did the Sentinal Node Biopsy before I ended up having the Masectomy. Hang in there. Let us know, OK? ((HUGS))
    Kathy

    krkath
    i also am 51 dia at 50 last June, partial mast with reconstruction in July, with 3 out of 19 nodes pos, er pos. Started chemo Aug dense dose every 14 days, 4 ac and 4 taxol, finished Thanksgiving week. 66 rad treatment finished Feb 8, 2006 have been on aromasin for 30 days now and the joint pain is only in my hands. I also had a complete hystorectomy the first week of dec. so I also am recovering from that. I do feel 70 also but am trying to get my strength back do a lot of yard and gardening, and of course walking. Then he hits me with this rheumatoid arthritis and I am hoping that after all the test it will be a reaction to the meds, of which dr wants me on for 5 yrs. I guess we will see I just am tired of being tired and of feeling that I am and will be a burden to my family, but this is just me, they have been the support that kept me going and am why I am here today
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #7
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    Hello, mj. Interesting you asked......the nurse at my breast surgeon's office is a survivor. Double mastectomy. No chemo, DCIS....personal choice for the mast. She was on a trial for the Tamoxifen/aromatase (like femora) double blind, so she doesn't know what she got.....but now has rheumatoid arthritis. So not the chemo for her...she didn't have it. I know this confuses things, but just wanted to help.
    Good luck with this. I, personally, am a work in process....last Taxol is next week. No signs of arthritis here, except right after Neulasta shot...next day I feel like old woman (I'm 50). Everything hurts. I stay REAL HYDRATED and tingles that come with Taxol are kept at bay. Also take a multi vitamin (B complex good for tingles).
    Anyway, hope this helps as well as confuses!
    "Knowledge is power" "Humor is mandatory!"
    Kathi
  • JKAlley
    JKAlley Member Posts: 84
    #8
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    KathiM said:

    Hello, mj. Interesting you asked......the nurse at my breast surgeon's office is a survivor. Double mastectomy. No chemo, DCIS....personal choice for the mast. She was on a trial for the Tamoxifen/aromatase (like femora) double blind, so she doesn't know what she got.....but now has rheumatoid arthritis. So not the chemo for her...she didn't have it. I know this confuses things, but just wanted to help.
    Good luck with this. I, personally, am a work in process....last Taxol is next week. No signs of arthritis here, except right after Neulasta shot...next day I feel like old woman (I'm 50). Everything hurts. I stay REAL HYDRATED and tingles that come with Taxol are kept at bay. Also take a multi vitamin (B complex good for tingles).
    Anyway, hope this helps as well as confuses!
    "Knowledge is power" "Humor is mandatory!"
    Kathi

    Hi all! I'm 52 & 3 yrs out from diagnosis. Went through chemo, radiation, and 1yr of herceptin. I have chemo induced arthritis in my back. I considered that good news since I had this new pain in my back that I'd never had before. So yeah, it's ONLY arthritis! I also still feel like I'm 72, but you know what, I'm here to feel. I think taxol did a number on my joints and muscles, I can still sleep forever, and I have this obnoxios buzzing in my ears caused by a/c that never goes away. But as I said, I'm here and living life to the very fullest, aches, pains, "music" in my head and all. Good luck to you all, Jud
  • Dowling2548
    Dowling2548 Member Posts: 4
    #9
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    My Name is Tim; I was diagnosed with Testicular cancer on July 23rd 2003. I initially had my cancerous right testicle removed and then I had my lymph nodes that went from my testicle to my bladder removed a few weeks later. I didn’t need chemo right away but ultimately did need it when the cancer relapsed 7 months later. I fished chemo on 6/1/2004 and have been “clean as a whistle since. I need arthroscopic surgery on my knee two weeks ago and they found considerable arthritis. I found out yesterday (my aunt told my mom) that it could be a result of chemo (I had Bleomycin, Cisplatin, and Etopside). When I googled it today I found this website (really glad I did). Thought I would respond with my experience incase anybody knows for sure if chemo can cause arthritis. I’m 28 and was told Wednesday that I will never be able to run again (absolutely devastating news). If anyone has any info or links I would appreciate it

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