Radiation Pneumonitis

dbqueen

Anyone else get this radiation side effect? I have been coughing for two months now and can barely hold a conversation! Taking prednisone and cough syrup. If anyone has had this, I am looking for 1). how bad was the coughing 2). how was the condition treated 3). how long did it last 4). did it wipe you out?! Thanks in advance for any advice.

inkblot

Hi dbqueen,

I had this. It cropped up around the last week of my rads. (I had 37 tx, total)

I had no fever or particular fatigue...just a bit of a dry, hacking cough, which was off and on but not severe. When it didn't clear up after a day or two, I rang my pulmonologist (I've had mild ashtma for about 15 years). He knew I was having rads as I'd seen him for a ck up before I started. He went ahead and prescribed an antibiotic immediately and told me to begin using my albuterol inhaler (the
bronchodilator type) but no steroid inhaler or steroid pills. That was to keep the airways open. Next day I went for a CXR and a visit with him, just to confirm his suspicions. There was one small spot of it, on my left lung, which was easy to see. My bc was on the left side, so that made sense.

Radiation pneumonitis isn't uncommon, from what I've heard and read but seems it should begin to clear sooner, with treatment, than you've experienced. Mine cleared within about 10 days and never got any worse and I had no residual problems. A follow up CXR confirmed that it was indeed gone. It was addressed early on and that probably helped a lot I think.

How long have you been treated for it? Have you noticed any improvement at all since you began the steroids? Are you still having rads? Did you have a CXR to confirm what's going on in there for sure? Have you had bronchial allergy issues in the past? I'd imagine that the cough syrup is to quiet your cough so you can rest at night? It's sometimes helpful to sleep propped up on several pillows, if you haven't tried that yet. If you've experienced no improvement over this two month period, I'd suggest seeing a lung specialist...or a different one, if you're already seeing one. I understand that it can sometimes hang on for a while but it sounds like you're having quite some difficulty since you cannot talk without coughing! That has to be exhausting and I can't imagine having that going on for two months.

Wondering if you may benefit from some moisturized 02 therapy or something along those lines...and/or some respiratory treatments to open your lungs up so you may breathe better and take in more oxygen? Ask your doctor.

You must get this under control and the sooner the better. I feel so badly for you, that you've suffered this long. I've had secondary pneumonia before...as a result of a nasty flu some years ago, but nothing which ever went on for the length of time you're talking about. Keep us posted and warm hugs ((((dbq))))

Love, light and laughter,
Ink

dbqueen

inkblot said:

Hi dbqueen,

I had this. It cropped up around the last week of my rads. (I had 37 tx, total)

I had no fever or particular fatigue...just a bit of a dry, hacking cough, which was off and on but not severe. When it didn't clear up after a day or two, I rang my pulmonologist (I've had mild ashtma for about 15 years). He knew I was having rads as I'd seen him for a ck up before I started. He went ahead and prescribed an antibiotic immediately and told me to begin using my albuterol inhaler (the
bronchodilator type) but no steroid inhaler or steroid pills. That was to keep the airways open. Next day I went for a CXR and a visit with him, just to confirm his suspicions. There was one small spot of it, on my left lung, which was easy to see. My bc was on the left side, so that made sense.

Radiation pneumonitis isn't uncommon, from what I've heard and read but seems it should begin to clear sooner, with treatment, than you've experienced. Mine cleared within about 10 days and never got any worse and I had no residual problems. A follow up CXR confirmed that it was indeed gone. It was addressed early on and that probably helped a lot I think.

How long have you been treated for it? Have you noticed any improvement at all since you began the steroids? Are you still having rads? Did you have a CXR to confirm what's going on in there for sure? Have you had bronchial allergy issues in the past? I'd imagine that the cough syrup is to quiet your cough so you can rest at night? It's sometimes helpful to sleep propped up on several pillows, if you haven't tried that yet. If you've experienced no improvement over this two month period, I'd suggest seeing a lung specialist...or a different one, if you're already seeing one. I understand that it can sometimes hang on for a while but it sounds like you're having quite some difficulty since you cannot talk without coughing! That has to be exhausting and I can't imagine having that going on for two months.

Wondering if you may benefit from some moisturized 02 therapy or something along those lines...and/or some respiratory treatments to open your lungs up so you may breathe better and take in more oxygen? Ask your doctor.

You must get this under control and the sooner the better. I feel so badly for you, that you've suffered this long. I've had secondary pneumonia before...as a result of a nasty flu some years ago, but nothing which ever went on for the length of time you're talking about. Keep us posted and warm hugs ((((dbq))))

Love, light and laughter,
Ink

Thanks so much for your thoughtful reply. I have read that it can creep up as much as 6 months after treatment stops. For me it was probably about 2 months after treatment stopped and I have been on the steroids for about one month. I think the problem is that I had a cough from an irrregular heartbeat (which I have since gotten resolved by taking a beta blocker) and didn't recognize right away that this cough was different. I don't think I was treated as soon as I should have been. I did read that it can take up to 6 months to clear. It is very slowly getting better on the steroids. I had a cat scan of the chest which confirmed "resolving radiation pneumonitis". I really have not talked to anyone else who had this but you, but found some old postings on another site. I do notice that it improves in the shower so I think you may be onto something about the moisture. I made an appointment with the radiologist in the hopes that she will have more ideas, but didn't think about maybe seeing a lung specialist. That's a good idea.

Thanks again!

britchick356

inkblot said:

Hi dbqueen,

I had this. It cropped up around the last week of my rads. (I had 37 tx, total)

I had no fever or particular fatigue...just a bit of a dry, hacking cough, which was off and on but not severe. When it didn't clear up after a day or two, I rang my pulmonologist (I've had mild ashtma for about 15 years). He knew I was having rads as I'd seen him for a ck up before I started. He went ahead and prescribed an antibiotic immediately and told me to begin using my albuterol inhaler (the
bronchodilator type) but no steroid inhaler or steroid pills. That was to keep the airways open. Next day I went for a CXR and a visit with him, just to confirm his suspicions. There was one small spot of it, on my left lung, which was easy to see. My bc was on the left side, so that made sense.

Radiation pneumonitis isn't uncommon, from what I've heard and read but seems it should begin to clear sooner, with treatment, than you've experienced. Mine cleared within about 10 days and never got any worse and I had no residual problems. A follow up CXR confirmed that it was indeed gone. It was addressed early on and that probably helped a lot I think.

How long have you been treated for it? Have you noticed any improvement at all since you began the steroids? Are you still having rads? Did you have a CXR to confirm what's going on in there for sure? Have you had bronchial allergy issues in the past? I'd imagine that the cough syrup is to quiet your cough so you can rest at night? It's sometimes helpful to sleep propped up on several pillows, if you haven't tried that yet. If you've experienced no improvement over this two month period, I'd suggest seeing a lung specialist...or a different one, if you're already seeing one. I understand that it can sometimes hang on for a while but it sounds like you're having quite some difficulty since you cannot talk without coughing! That has to be exhausting and I can't imagine having that going on for two months.

Wondering if you may benefit from some moisturized 02 therapy or something along those lines...and/or some respiratory treatments to open your lungs up so you may breathe better and take in more oxygen? Ask your doctor.

You must get this under control and the sooner the better. I feel so badly for you, that you've suffered this long. I've had secondary pneumonia before...as a result of a nasty flu some years ago, but nothing which ever went on for the length of time you're talking about. Keep us posted and warm hugs ((((dbq))))

Love, light and laughter,
Ink

I am a survivor over 5 years out. I'm having new respiratatory problems like never before and wonder if it is just another one of the side effects that I'll have to live with because of BrCa treatment. I'm having coughing and bronchial spasms that nearly leave me gasping for any air I can get. I'm now doing the steam, albuterol,steroids and have had 2 antibiotics. As far as I know, I'm doing everything by the textbook. Would someone shed some light on why this is happening?

inkblot

britchick356 said:

I am a survivor over 5 years out. I'm having new respiratatory problems like never before and wonder if it is just another one of the side effects that I'll have to live with because of BrCa treatment. I'm having coughing and bronchial spasms that nearly leave me gasping for any air I can get. I'm now doing the steam, albuterol,steroids and have had 2 antibiotics. As far as I know, I'm doing everything by the textbook. Would someone shed some light on why this is happening?

Hi britchick356,

I remember you from quite some time ago...and I am so sorry you're having this bronchial problem.

While I don't know what is causing it, seems that it could be any one of several things. If you had radiation, then it may be a late effect of that or something entirely different? Only a really good doctor, who knows your full history, could begin to assess it. What is your doctor saying it is? Has he done cultures for any bacterial/viral condition(s), scans, etc.? I've heard about a condition, but don't recall the name of it, where, due to the radiation touching the lung, it can cause a bit of a fibrosis-like condition. Something you may want to ask your doc about for details. Hope you're seeing a lung specialist?

Aside from allergies, a fungal/bacterial/viral thing going on or a penumonia/asthma/bronchitis type situation, I can't shed much light. It must be exhausting and my heart goes out to you.

Please keep us posted and hoping you begin to improve really soon!!!

Love, light and laughter,
Ink