shortness of breath with doxil

eward
eward Member Posts: 210
edited March 2014 in Ovarian Cancer #1
Has anyone experienced shortness of breath as a side effect of doxil? My mom has been having shortness of breath and has had 4 doxil infusions so far. She has also had pleural effusions drained during this time. I have read that shortness of breath can be a side effect of the doxil, but none of her docs have mentioned this as a possibility.
Eileen

Comments

  • fuzzytrouble
    fuzzytrouble Member Posts: 212
    Shortness of breath
    Hello I am usually on the Uterine cancer site but I always check here because I was on Doxil. i am on a break from it now, so recently I had a ct scan and they found a blood clot in the vein that is connected to both my legs, both my legs were swelled at the time of the ct scan. I noticed that my right leg was bothering me more and sure enough it was from the blood clot, I had to have another ct scan and then they had found that pieces of it broke off and went to the lungs (small but serious enough for me to go to the hospital and get a dose of Lovenox and then get prescribed blood thinners. I was told that cancer will cause blood clots and one sign is shortness of breath, so I would go to the hospital with any shortness of breath. I did not get that on Doxil but I did with carb/taxol (no blood clots with that chemo). I did get blisters and intense itching on feet after 4th round of Doxil. I had thinning of hair, red hands and peeling of skin on feet also, awful skin color, but Doxil did me good and my lung nodules were not progressing and some were shrinking that is why I am on break now. The blood clot scared me more than anything,so please keep an eye on your mom and tell her to tell you if any leg swelling or the shortness of breath continues. I hope this helped a bit.
    Hugs from Oregon
  • eward
    eward Member Posts: 210

    Shortness of breath
    Hello I am usually on the Uterine cancer site but I always check here because I was on Doxil. i am on a break from it now, so recently I had a ct scan and they found a blood clot in the vein that is connected to both my legs, both my legs were swelled at the time of the ct scan. I noticed that my right leg was bothering me more and sure enough it was from the blood clot, I had to have another ct scan and then they had found that pieces of it broke off and went to the lungs (small but serious enough for me to go to the hospital and get a dose of Lovenox and then get prescribed blood thinners. I was told that cancer will cause blood clots and one sign is shortness of breath, so I would go to the hospital with any shortness of breath. I did not get that on Doxil but I did with carb/taxol (no blood clots with that chemo). I did get blisters and intense itching on feet after 4th round of Doxil. I had thinning of hair, red hands and peeling of skin on feet also, awful skin color, but Doxil did me good and my lung nodules were not progressing and some were shrinking that is why I am on break now. The blood clot scared me more than anything,so please keep an eye on your mom and tell her to tell you if any leg swelling or the shortness of breath continues. I hope this helped a bit.
    Hugs from Oregon

    hugs back to you from Illinois
    Thank you for your information and advice. I will ask my mom about any leg swelling. Best of luck to you and enjoy your break from chemo as much as you can!
    Eileen
  • BonnieR
    BonnieR Member Posts: 1,526 Member
    blood counts
    Hi Eileen, I never had shortness of breath from the doxil but from low hemoglobin. Could be her hemoglobin is low, and that is what supplies the oxygen to our body and causes shortness of breath. When does she have labwork again? I would make sure I asked the docs about it. Pray she is already starting to feel better. Hugs ♥ Prayers Bonnie
  • eward
    eward Member Posts: 210
    BonnieR said:

    blood counts
    Hi Eileen, I never had shortness of breath from the doxil but from low hemoglobin. Could be her hemoglobin is low, and that is what supplies the oxygen to our body and causes shortness of breath. When does she have labwork again? I would make sure I asked the docs about it. Pray she is already starting to feel better. Hugs ♥ Prayers Bonnie

    breath
    Bonnie,
    I will ask my mom about her hemoblobin. She keeps telling me her docs say her bloodwork looks normal. Thanks for your message and your prayers. Prayers and hugs to you. How are you right now?
    XOXO
    Eileen