Lung Issues - HELP !!!!

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nudgie
nudgie Member Posts: 1,478 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
To make a long story short. I have Stage II NO/MO colon cancer. Removed tumor on 10 July 06 and started the FLOFOX Regime of Oxaliplatin, 5FU and Leucovorin on 18 August 06. My 4th treatment was postponed until 6 October due to low WBC count.

I have been an avid exerciser for 15 years. Serious weight lifting and jogging. A few years ago I was going through a stressfull time and notice changes in my breathing so I contacted my lung doc and he ran tests which showed I was fine, but recommended a CT Scan of my lungs to make sure. The CT Scan showed very small nodules. Over the last 3-4 years I have had yearly CT Scans which have shown on changes in these nodules. In April 06 I had a CT Scan and saw my Lung Doc in July 06 and he indicated NO change to the nodules and everything looked good. Also during April - July 06 I still continued my weight lifting and jogging with NO signs of lung or breathing difficulties. In July 06 had the cancer tumor remove and still NO signs of breathing difficulties.

Started Chemo on 18 August 06 and after my second session of 15 September I began to notice some slight changes in my breathing. At my third session of 15 Sept I told my Onc Dr and Nurses that there have been changes to my breathing and as usual nothing was done. So I called my Lung Doc and requested if I could have another CT Scan done to make sure no changes to the nodules have taken place or something else showed-up, so on 28 Sept 06 I had a High Resolution CT Scan done. Monday (2 Oct) night, I received a call from the lung Doc's resp nurse indicating that the nodules did not change BUT I had signs of emphysema.

My confusion is how could I be so healthy lung wise running, etc in April 06 - September 06 and then all of sudden have problems with my lungs and breathing AFTER chemo started.

Has anyone else had this problem and if so, what was the outcome or resolution with continued treatment and doctor?

NOTE: I have an appt with my lung Doc on 4 Oct

Comments

  • Patrusha
    Patrusha Member Posts: 487
    #2
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    Nudgie,

    Get your oncologist and your lung doctor talking. I was told by my oncologists that any breathing problems during chemo were to be promptly reported. Did your lung doctor say just what those old nodules are? Benign cycts? Perhaps they were early signs of emphysema that your otherwise healthy immune system fought off. Now that cancer (and, yes, the chemo) have compromised your immune system, perhaps the emphysema is taking hold? Perhaps this is temporary?

    I can only say that you're doing everything right with exercising. But make sure your docs talk to each other. They might just stumble across some answers for your situation.
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #3
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    Oh, my dear! Don't forget that the chemo is affecting EVERY PART of your body. One oncology nurse said it straight...."We take you to the edge, and then hopefully bring you all the way back". "HOPEFULLY?", I said....
    I have lung damage, but I think is is exclusively from the rads during the breast cancer. Actually, during the rectal cancer chemo...it was more my heart that made me short of breath...wierd, huh? But it got better when treatment stopped...might have a cardiologist take a peek....

    Hugs, Kathi
  • AuthorUnknown
    AuthorUnknown Member Posts: 1,537 Member
    #4
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    Nudgie,

    I agree with Patrusha.
    What were those nodules in the past?
    Chemo does compromises the immune system and whatever was there is now coming through. My mother has got pneumonia because her immune system was compromised by chemo. Her scan now shows multiple subcentimeter nodules which are inconclusive whether it is cancer or scar tissue from pneumonia. We are going to repeat CT scan in 3 months.

    I hope your lung doctor will be able to shed more light into this situation. Please do let us know what happens.

    I am very sorry for this your new problem.

    Best wishes, Eleonora
  • glimmerofhope
    glimmerofhope Member Posts: 53 Member
    #5
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    I'll try to make a long response short....I'm no doc, but I have experienced something similar to what you are experiencing....I suggest it could be twofold.

    If your hemoglobin has gone down during the time that you experienced this (due to surgery or chemo or both,) that could be the main problem. The hemoglobin does the primary job of carrying the oxygen..

    I run about 1.2 miles about 3 times per week...and when I get chemo, I consistent tell my oncologist whether my hemoglobin has gone up or down before he shares the info....I can tell by how hard it is to run and how labored my breathing is.

    Secondly, after my first thoroscopic surgery, (with low hemoglobin and very low energy caused by the surgery,) I was convinced it was about over for me and the cancer in my lungs was in the final stages....I was wrong, but I had almost convinced myself of this... NOW, after a second thoroscopic surgery on the other lung, and about 18 months later, I can still run less than 8 minute mile fairly easily....and to hear my oncologist tell it, the nodules still in both lungs must be the size of manatees... Fortunately we only use about 20% of our lung capacity.

    I'm curious, what type of lungs surgery did you have? Was it thoroscopic? If it wasn't, I guessing you surgeon was in his late 40's or 50's.
  • vinny3
    vinny3 Member Posts: 928 Member
    #6
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    It is hard to tell the cause when multiple things are going on. Did the lung doctor do pulmonary function studies (spirometry) to measure the efficiency of your lungs? That tells you whether there is emphysema or may be some restrictive lung problem (low capacity). Your blood count could be low as well which affects the oxygen carrying capacity of your blood. Have them get together, at least by phone, and I also recommend that you have them give you copies of any tests that you have had so that you have them if you decide to consult another doctor.
    Good luck,

    ****

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