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Side effects with ABVD only

jak0474
jak0474 CSN Member Posts: 4
edited March 2014 in Lymphoma (Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin) #1
I am a 29 year old woman who has been in remission for 2 1/2 years. I was only treated with 6 rounds of ABVD and during the past year and a half I have had shortness of breath and sharp chest pains that either start with activity, cold or for no reason at all. Definitely are worse with caffeine which I have now stopped. I have gotten pulmonary function tests which were normal and an echocardiogram which was also normal, so I was wondering if anyone else who has only had ABVD and is further along in remission has the same symptoms and if they ever went away or if it was a sign of something worse that developed later. Every other response on this discussion board involved side effects from radiation too.
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Comments

  • tsivels
    tsivels CSN Member Posts: 18
    #2
    Well I am not currently in remission,,,I am about to take my last treatment. My mass is basically gone, but within the last couple of weeks I have experienced shortness of breath and a tightness in my chest when I breath. My pulmonary function test came back normal as well. So I'm not sure if it's the long term effects of one of the drugs or not. I don't know if this will help, but you're not alone in this area. Maybe someone else can help us out if they have experienced the same thing.
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  • gp09
    gp09 CSN Member Posts: 18
    #3
    Hi,
    I had the 4 drugs, I guess it was ABVD, I've been in remission for 9 years. During chemo I had shortness of breath. Afterwards I had a lot of times when I was really tired, but I also like to stay up late even though I have to go to work the next day, so that may have been lack of sleep. It's hard to remember but I think I had times when I was out of breath. I don't think I have that now. Very bad memory, maybe the chemo fried some brain cells, lol. I don't know how much help this is, but hopefully your shortness of breath will go away soon.
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  • lolobean
    lolobean CSN Member Posts: 2
    #4
    tsivels said:

    Well I am not currently in remission,,,I am about to take my last treatment. My mass is basically gone, but within the last couple of weeks I have experienced shortness of breath and a tightness in my chest when I breath. My pulmonary function test came back normal as well. So I'm not sure if it's the long term effects of one of the drugs or not. I don't know if this will help, but you're not alone in this area. Maybe someone else can help us out if they have experienced the same thing.

    I get a sharp pain in my chest when I take a deep breath sometimes. I finished 8 cycles of ABVD in Nov 03. It is sporadic (sp?) at best,
    nothing constant. I guess maybe just a side effect? My pulmonary function tests ok, and i don't get short of breath, but that little twinge of pain comes back now and then. My echo was ok too.
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  • noeldenise
    noeldenise CSN Member Posts: 5
    #5
    I had four rounds of ABVD followed by a month of radiation. I have had similar symptoms. I get a sharp pain in my chest some times when I try to inhale. I have not had any tests but now I know why I am having these symptoms.
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  • Dawgsfan
    Dawgsfan CSN Member Posts: 3
    #6
    It has been 2 years this month since my last rad treatment. I just had a heart cath for the same reason. I am also so tired and weak. My memory and thinking ability is gone. I still throw up all the time and no one can tell me what is going on. I use to be an accountant but now I have a hard time doing simple math. My docs keep telling me not to worry it will get better. I wish I knew what to tell you. All I do is live each day as it comes and keep praying that it will get better.
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